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night and §fasant. 


NARRATIVE FOR MY YOUNG FRIENDS. 

#jerman of (#ran^ ^offmann. 


BY 

Rev. D. P. ROSENMILLER. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

LUTHERAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION, 

42 North Ninth St. 

1872. 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by 
LUTHERAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION, 
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 


STEREOTYPED BY J. FAGAN & SON, PHILADELPHIA. ) 



CAXTON PRESS OF SHERMAN & CO. 



PREFACE 

BY THE TRANSLATOR. 


' I "^HE design of the author of this inter- 
esting little volume is to inculcate the 
duty to “ Fear God, and work righteousness.” 
For this purpose, he relates historical facts 
which occurred during the Peasant War in 
Germany in the sixteenth century. The ob- 
ject for which this war was undertaken, was 
to relieve the people from the unjust oppres- 
sions imposed upon them as serfs, by their 
civil and ecclesiastical rulers. Had these 
rulers ” feared God and done righteousness,” 

I * V 


vi 


PREFACE BY 


they would have voluntarily freed the people 
from their burdens, and no conflict would 
have ensued. Had the leaders of the peas- 
ants been men of right character, they would 
have succeeded in achieving their freedom. 
As it is often the case in such general up- 
heavals of society, wicked and ambitious men 
succeeded in becoming leaders, and by their 
godless and iniquitous actions, led the peas- 
ants to commit glaring acts of cruelty, in 
consequence of which their cause was ruined. 
General opposition to them was excited, and 
not only was their condition made much 
worse than before the war, but there was less 
prospect of their future success. Even those 
who sympathized with the oppressed and 
down-trodden peasantry, dreaded the excesses 
into which these people were led by their 
leaders, in this abortive attempt to regain 
their freedom. The general ignorance that 
prevailed at that age among the masses, ren- 


THE TRANSLATOR. 


vii 


dered them much more liable to be led into 
shameful excesses than would be the case in 
the present day, especially in our own en- 
lightened land of America. Yet even we, 
who look back to the fraud, rapine, and 
bloodshed which attended our late war, would 
shudder at the repetition of the same scenes. 
And religion and philosophy would both 
prompt us rather to endure the evils that al- 
ready exist, than to rush blindly into those 
we know not of. 

For the further elucidation of this instruc- 
tive little history, we here translate a short 
sketch on the subject from the Conversa- 

tions-Lexicon." 

The Peasant War. We designate in Ger- 
man history by this term, that period of in- 
surrection in which the peasants in Franconia 
and Suabia, and afterwards in Saxony and 
Thuringia, took up arms ; at first, to rescue 
themselves from a state of oppression, but 


PREFACE BY 


viii 

afterwards to conquer an imaginary freedom. 
Many, especially the Catholic historians, are 
disposed to charge these disturbances, which 
raged partly during the fifteenth century, and 
in the first thirty years of the sixteenth cen- 
tury, to Luther’s reformation. But the cir- 
cumstance, that the seeds of these disturb- 
ances existed before Luther’s time, (as well 
as his public and earnest disapproval of the 
course of the peasantry,) shows how unjust 
this charge is. The true cause of these de- 
structive commotions, is much rather to be 
found in the severe oppressions under which 
the peasants, as serfs to the higher orders of 
society, labored ; although it cannot be denied, 
that in the more recent disturbances, a mis- 
understanding of the doctrines of Luther, 
may have in a few, yet not in many cases, 
contributed to the discontent of the people 
under their burdens. i 

“ Most of the peasants were serfs, or were 
at least compelled to pay such an amount of 
taxes, customs, tithes and gifts, and to render 
such service, that these at length became ut- 


THE TRANSLATOR. 


IX 


terly intolerable ; and it was therefore natural 
that they should long for relief But as 
neither their civil nor spiritual rulers were 
willing to yield any part of their rights, nor 
the landlords (or land proprietors) to remove 
the abuses which were founded in a great 
measure on contracts which dated back to 
past ages ; there seemed to be no other re- 
source left to the peasants, than for them to 
seek help from their own efforts, and to this 
they were precipitated by certain enthusiastic 
leaders. These disturbances commenced first 
in Wurzburg, where an enthusiast, John 
Boehm, (not to be mistaken for John Boehm 
of Goerlitz,) a young man, who earned his 
bread by singing songs in the taverns, arose 
as a preacher of liberty, and professed to 
proclaim, by inspiration of the Mother of 
God, that a perfect equality should soon be 
established among all men; that the Pope, 
Emperor, Princes, and Magistrates, should 
no longer exist; that all men should earn 
their bread alike with labor; and that for- 
ests, meadows, and streams of water, should 


X 


PREFACE BY 


be common property for the general good. 
With representations of this character, which 
were called sermons, he made himself known 
far and near, and from Franconia, Suabia, 
Bavaria, and from along the Rhine, hearers 
flocked to him in such great numbers, that at 
one time, it is said, he had forty thousand 
eager listeners assembled around him. These 
he directed to meet on an appointed evening, 
and commanded them to come armed, and to 
leave their wives and children at home ; an 
arrangement which left no doubt of his de- 
sign to excite an insurrection. Rudolph, 
Bishop of Wurzburg, who was aware of this 
fact, had the fanatic arrested and imprisoned, 
but his followers met together at the time 
appointed, and ' when his imprisonment was 
made known to them, they presented them- 
selves before the fortress at Wurzburg, to the 
number of forty-six thousand men, and de- 
manded his liberation. The bishop’s mar- 
shal sought in vain to pacify them, for he 
found it necessary to retire speedily in order 
to avoid being stoned. The bishop then or- 


THE TRANSLATOR. 


xi 


dered several cannon to be fired on them, and 
again commanded them to retire, which they 
then did. During their retreat, their stand- 
ard-bearers were captured, and after being 
imprisoned, were executed along with their 
leader, John Boehm. 

'‘A similar insurrection broke out in 1502, 
at Spires, against the bishop and the priest- 
hood, and was led by two fanatics. But it 
was in 1525, that these disturbances culmi- 
nated. At that time, the peasants sent their 
Twelve Articles (containing a plain statement 
of their burdens) to Wurzburg, petitioned 
for a speedy removal of their oppressions, 
and appealed to the Bible for the justness of 
their demands. The bishop promised to 
consider these requests favorably; but the 
peasants, who only half believed him, seized 
their weapons, and even the citizens whom he 
called to his aid joined the cause of the peas- 
ants. The bishop having in vain sought to 
quiet the disturbances by the execution of 
one of their leaders, found it necessary to 
remove to Heidelberg for his safety, and the 


xii 


PREFACE BY 


peasants, at Easter, in 1525, having taken up 
arms, advanced upon Wurzburg. The revo- 
lutionists now passed through all Franconia, 
and wherever resistance was offered to them, 
especially in*the monasteries and castles, they 
plundered and abused everything, some- 
times devastating by fire. The city of Wiirz- 
burg surrendered to them, but the fortress 
was proof against a close siege. They then 
advanced further, and were defeated in an 
engagement near Koenigshofen, and again at 
Sulzdorf, which repulses cost them the loss 
of nine thousand men. As they were said to 
show no quarter, all the prisoners captured 
from them were therefore killed without 
mercy. Wurzburg was compelled to yield 
again to the victors; on June 8th, 1525, the 
bishop returned, and peace and order once 
more reigned. The war was then virtually 
ended; but one hundred and eighty-nine 
fortresses and castles were partly in ruins, or 
totally destroyed ; twenty-five monasteries 
were disbanded ; and about twelve thousand 
persons had lost their lives. In Lothringen, on 


THE TRANSLATOR. 


Xlll 


the Upper Rhine, and in the Breisgau, the 
peasants took up arms ; in the first two pro- 
vinces they were frequently defeated, and in 
the latter they soon voluntarily surr.endered. 
Thus the peasant war came to an end in Fran- 
conia and Suabia, after it cost the lives of fifty 
thousand peasants, without attaining the de- 
sired end — the diminution of their burdens ; 
but in some places, on the contrary, it was 
followed by an increase of them. These 
agitations were followed by the peasant war 
in Saxony and Thuringia, in which Thomas 
Miintzer acted a conspicuous part.” 

It is therefore apparent, that the demands 
of the peasants were generally just and 
reasonable, and had their leaders “ feared 
God and wrought righteousness,” they would 
have gained the sympathy and aid of many 
of the nobility. But whilst some of their 
leaders were honest, others were ambitious 
and wicked ; and by these latter, the ignorant 
masses were led to commit such atrocities 


Xiv PREFACE BY THE TRANSLATOR. 

and outrages, as to forfeit the public confi- 
dence, and to cause the most powerful part 
of the community to combine against them. 
The result was, what could have been natu- 
rally anticipated, the ruin of their cause, an 
unnecessary sacrifice of human life, and the 
rivetting of their chains more tightly upon 
them. 




Knight and Peasant. 


CHAPTER I. 

THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 

I T was on a Sunday, in the month of 
March, a.d. 1525, that a company 
had met in the hall of the inn of a vil- 
lage called Bockingen, situated a short 
distance from Heilbronn, the capital of 
Suabia. They sipped their sour wine, 
whilst they conversed with each other 

about the hard times and grievous bur- 
B 17 


l8 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

dens imposed on them by the priest- 
hood and the nobility. 

‘‘It is, perhaps, not so bad as you 
represent it,” said a comely youth, with 
fair hair and blue eyes, who was lean- 
ing on a broadsword, and listening to 
the conversation of the guests, who 
were chiefly peasants and villagers. 
“You show no marks of extreme 
poverty, and your glasses are speedily 
emptied, as I perceive.” 

“Alas, young sir,” answered one of 
the oldest peasants, “ you cannot judge 
from appearances, which evidently are 
against us ; for to-day is Sunday. Once 
in a week we must be permitted for an 
hour or two to forget our poverty, care, 
and wretchedness. On week-days not 
a drop of wine moistens our lips, and 


THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 


19 


not a morsel of meat is seen on our 
tables. Wine, meat, and fish belong to 
the nobles and priests, for whom we poor 
peasants must toil and labor. Ask the 
landlord of the house, Jacob Rohrbach, 
or Jacklein, as we peasants usually term 
him ; he has a ready tongue, and he can 
tell you all about how the peasants are 
oppressed in this country. Grants, rents, 
and taxes they must render, until noth- 
ing remains to them but bare life. 
If you inquire, good sir, you may con- 
vince yourself, and will surely sympa- 
thize with us, instead of blaming us for 
occasionally indulging ourselves, on a 
Sunday, with a glass of wine.” 

“ Far be it from me to censure you,” 
answered the friendly youth. “ I know 
well what a hard lot is assigned to you, 


20 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


poor villagers of Bockingen. You are 
serfs indeed ! ” 

“Yes, truly, all of us who are here,” 
was the reply. “ Some of us belong to 
a neighboring nobleman, some to the 
city of Heilbronn, others to the gentle- 
men of the German League, that well 
endowed agent of the priests and 
knights, in this vicinity.” 

The youth nodded. “ I thought so,” 
said he. “ But only be patient ; better 
times are coming for you, and they are, 
perhaps, nearer than you suppose.” 

“ Alas, sir, that you have from Jack- 
lein, I suppose,” answered the peasant. 
“ He has for a long time soothed us 
with the song of our being freed from 
serfdom, and from other grievances. 
But I cannot believe him overmuch, al- 


THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 


21 


though he has a wise head, and is a 
bold companion, who entertains no re- 
gard for the priest or the nobleman. Y es, 
yes, even the government itself receives 
no obedience or favor from him. Had 
he not the boldness, a couple of years 
ago, to send, on his own responsibility, 
a challenge to the mayor and people 
of Diirrenzimmer, and yet they could do 
nothing with him. He is truly a reck- 
less fellow, and I really believe the story 
that is hinted of him and the Mayor of 
Bockingen, the noble Sir Jacob von 
Oberhausen.” 

“What is hinted?” asked the youth. 
“ Speak out plainly, man, I am the peas- 
ants’ friend, and not their enemy.” 

“ Hark ye ! One must not speak too 
freely of it,” added the peasant, casting 


22 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


a cautious and suspicious look around. 
“ Jacklein does not like to be reminded 
of it. But,” he cautiously whispered, 
“it is doubtless true that he, with his 
own hand, stabbed the mayor, whom he 
hated. No one could prove it, for Jack- 
lein had contrived the business too 
cunningly for that, and yet every one 
knows that no other than he did the 
act.” 

“ Ha ! ” exclaimed the youth, “ it is 
most surprising that he is not now con- 
fined by lock and bolt, but on the con- 
trary, can go about wherever it pleases 
him, publicly and at liberty.” 

“Yes; the reason is, that the judge 
and the magistrates fear him,” said the 
peasant, in an undertone. “He is 
deeply in debt, yet no creditor dare 


THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 


23 


press him. Thus, for example, it was 
with the Canon of Wimpfen, to whom 
Jacklein owed rent for several years, 
and who sought to collect it from him. 
But Jacklein /laughed in his face, and 
disputed the account. The Canon 
brought suit against him before the 
mayor, and summoned him to appear. 
Jacklein laughed again ; and one day, 
when he met the Vicar on the street, he 
followed him, and bawled after him : 
* Priest, priest, prepare yourself well, 
for I will be ready for you.’ The 
Vicar asked, with some alarm, what this 
meant? ‘You will find out. Priest, on 
the day of trial ! ’ exclaimed Jacklein, 
as he turned his back on the Vicar. 
What happened on the day of the trial ? 
Jacklein’s friends and adherents, whom 


24 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


he had summoned, waited on the Vicar, 
and threatened to kill him, if he would 
present himself before the mayor’s 
court. The Vicar called on the magis- 
trate of Heilbronn, and on the servants 
of the convent, but all this availed him 
nothing. These persons ’themselves 
were afraid of the outlaw, and advised 
the Priest to let the matter drop. This 
was done, and Jacklein was free of the 
debt.” 

“A venturesome knave, truly,” said 
the youth, more to himself than to the 
peasant. “ It will be necessary to keep 
an eye on him.” 

Meanwhile the hall-door was opened, 
and there entered a man who was yet 
young, broad-shouldered, and of a sin- 
gularly bold countenance. 


THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 


25 


“This is he,” said the peasant; “this 
is Jacklein himself.” 

The youth turned round and nodded. 
“ I know him already,” he added. 

Jacklein cast his eyes around the 
assembly, and fixed them finally on the 
figure of the young gentleman. 

“ Sir Egbert, upon my word ! ” ex- 
claimed he. 

The youth immediately stepped to 
the door, out of which he went in com- 
pany with Jacklein. 

“Step up to the chamber,” said the 
latter. “ All are already assembled ; I 
will follow you presently. Meanwhile I 
will make arrangements that we may 
not be disturbed.” 

The youth ascended a flight of stairs 
to the upper story, where he opened a 
3 


26 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


door and entered a spacious room. 
Three gentlemen were there, one of 
whom was clad in armor, with a sword 
girded to his side ; the two others were 
clad in ordinary citizen’s dress. 

The man in armor, in the vigor of 
life, of handsome person, and a noble, 
winning countenance, with a high fore- 
head crowned with black flowing hair, 
dark piercing eyes, and well-dressed 
moustache and whiskers, bowed smil- 
ingly to the entering youth. 

“ Come nearer, Egbert,” said he, 
“that I may introduce you to these 
gentlemen.” 

The youth advanced toward the men, 
who were seated around a table, and 
took a seat with them. 

“ This,” continued the knight, “ is Herr 


THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 


27 


George Metzler, the landlord of Bal- 
lenberg, a man of peasant rank, much 
loved and highly honored. This other is 
the learned Herr Wendel Hippier, late 
chancellor to the Prince of Hohenlohe, 
as fine and competent a gentleman as 
can be found in the kingdom ; and this 
is the elector Keller, Sir Weigand’of Mil- 
tenberg in the Odenwald, the excellent 
adviser and supporter of our enterprise. 
But this young gentleman,” added the 
knight, whilst he familiarly laid his hand 
on the shoulder of the youth, “this is 
my good friend and companion in arms, 
Sir Egbert of Hoheneck, in whom you 
can all confide, for he is true as steel, 
and no man is braver. He will stand 
by us fast and immovable in our great 
work of liberation.” 


28 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


“And I ! and I!” exclaimed the other 
gentlemen, as they grasped the hand of 
the youth, “welcome him to our great 
undertaking.” 

Sir Egbert bowed to the company, 
and the ceremony of mutual introduc- 
tion was concluded. 

“ And now for consultation,” said the 
Knight of Geyersberg. “Why does 
Jacklein tarry? We must hear what 
progress he has made, and what force 
we can safely calculate on.” 

“ He intended to follow me imme- 
diately,” said the youthful Sir Egbert, 
“ and I think I now hear his footsteps 
on the stairs.” 

It was even so, and in a few mo- 
ments Jacklein entered the room, and 
seated himself with the others. 


THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 29 

“ Now, gentlemen, we shall be undis- 
turbed,” said he. “ Have you deter- 
mined ^upon anything ? ” 

“Upon nothing as yet,” answ^ered 
Florian Geyer. “We awaited you. 
What have you accomplished since our 
last meeting ? ” 

“ Much, gentlemen,” was the answer. 
“ The people here in Hohenlohe are cer- 
tain for us, and await with impatience 
the signal for rising. About ten thou- 
sand men will enter the field in answer 
to the first call from me. But how is 
it with you in Franconia? ” 

“ All right with us,” answered the 
knight; “my countrymen are ready, 
and I can at any time add my heavy 
legion to your army. We need only 
designate the day.” 


3 


30 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


“Then without further delay, and like 
a thunderbolt on the heads of our op- 
pressors ! ” exclaimed Jacklein, Ayith sav- 
age joy. “ Down with the castles and 
fortifications of those who are suck- 
ing our life-blood ! The firebrand in 
the cloisters and abbeys of the bishops 
and priests ! Death and destruction to 
all who have fattened on our soil and 
trampled the peasant under foot, heed- 
less of his painful cries, without a spark 
of sympathy for the starving, the per- 
ishing, and the unhappy serfs ! Down 
with them, say I, and up with our stand- 
ard, the Union-Shoe.” * 

* Bundschuh, properly the ancient name of a large 
shoe which reached above the ankle, where it was 
tied. Figuratively it signified the peasantry in the 
1 6th century, because the leaders of the peasant-war 
adopted such a shoe as their standard. It was car- 
ried on a staff or painted on a banner. 


THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 


31 


‘‘ Not so hasty, Jacklein,” said George 
Metzler, a man of large and powerful 
frame, with a calm countenance. “ All 
is not yet ready in the provinces. I 
am waiting yet for news from various 
places, and until I receive it, can render 
no assistance. In a week or two, per- 
haps — not sooner.” 

Jacklein expressed impatience in his 
countenance. 

“ Delay upon delay ! ” said he, restive- 
ly. “ Meanwhile, the enemy has time 
to prepare to meet us with overwhelm- 
ing resistance.” 

“ No ; fear not that,” interposed 
Hippier. “ I have travelled through the 
country, and have found the nobility 
and priesthood affected with only a 
vague alarm. They anticipate, it is 


32 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


true, the fall of a heavy storm that now 
hangs over them, but they know not 
from what direction it will come. If we 
wait a little longer, the fruit will be ripe.” 

“I agree with him,” said Weigand, 
in a calm, but yet impressive tone. 
“ The Twelve Articles are not yet fully 
published throughout the country, and 
we have met here this day to give them 
a final revision. And this must be done 
before anything else.” 

To this all agreed, except Jacklein, 
who was silent and bit his finger-nails 
with an irritable air. He would have 
preferred to make an immediate attack, 
and vent his hatred and revenge upon 
the oppressors of the people. But he 
must needs assent to the voice of the 
majority. 



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THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 


33 


‘‘ Here are the Twelve Articles,” said 
Chancellor Hippier. “We all know their 
contents, we know that the demands 
they make express only that which ac- 
cords with Christian moderation ; and I 
therefore propose that we accept them, 
without alteration, as our battle-cry, in 
case our oppressors are willing to enter 
into a contest with us.” 

“ My opinion is the same,” replied 
the knight, Florian Geyer. “ All that 
I wish is that you present them to us 
once more, plainly and distinctly, that 
each one, for the last time, may consult 
his own conscience.” 

“Well, let it be so,” said the Chan- 
cellor. “Hear then: — Article I. It is 
our humble petition and desire, and the 

wish and judgment of us all, that we, 
c 


34 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


the people, in future have permission 
and power in each community to elect 
and call our own minister, and that we 
have authority to dismiss him, if his 
conduct be improper ; that the elected 
minister shall preach the gospel to us, 
pure and unadulterated, without adding 
thereto doctrines or commandments of 
men. 

“Article II. Since the tithe was in- 
stituted in the Old Testament, and sanc- 
tioned in the New, we therefore are will- 
ing to give, as is becoming, not less 
than the tenth of our grain. Neverthe- 
less it shall be given to God, and dis- 
tributed to his children. (Heb., and 
Psalm 109.) If it be deserved by a 
minister, who declares to us the pure 
Word of God, then are we willing that 


THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 35 

he should have his share. This tenth 
shall be collected by an ecclesiastical 
provost ; and out of it he shall render a 
sufficient support to the minister of the 
congregation and his family; and the 
remainder shall be distributed among 
the poor of the village, according to the 
opinion of the congregation. But the 
cattle - tithe we will not pay, either to 
spiritual or civil rulers. For the Lord 
create th the cattle to be free to man- 
kind. (Gen. i.) 

“ Article III. It has been usual here- 
tofore, to hold us as serfs, a fact that is 
shameful, inasmuch as Christ with his 
precious blood purchased and redeemed 
us, (Is. iii.. Pet. i., i Cor. vii., Rom. xiii.,) 
the humblest shepherd, as well as the 
most powerful prince, without any ex- 


36 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


ception. It is therefore evident from 
the Scriptures that we are free, and we 
will be free, (Sol. Wisd. vi. ; i Pet. ii.) 
Not that we would reject all civil gov- 
ernment, for God does not teach us 
this. We are to live \n obedience to 
authority, and not in carnal self-will, 
(Deut. vi.. Matt, iv.,) and we should love 
God, and recognize him in our neighbor, 
and do to others as we would have 
them do to us, as the Lord has taught 
us in Ms new commandment, (John 
xiii. 34.) We should therefore live 
according to his commandment. This 
commandment does not teach us to dis- 
obey our lawful rulers. We should 
humble ourselves not only before the 
government, but also before each other. 
And we accordingly do cheerfully obey 


THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 


37 


our chosen magistrates, whom God has 
placed over us, in all becoming and 
Christian duties ; and we are fully con- 
vinced that you will, as true Christians, 
willingly release us from serfdom, or 
prove to us, from the Gospel, that we 
are serfs. 

“ Article IV. It has been heretofore 
the custom that no peasant is per- 
mitted to hunt or fish, which appears 
to us unnatural and wicked, as well as 
selfish and contrary to the Word of God. 
In some parts the Government even 
keeps wild animals to the injury of the 
peasants, so that what we cultivate, and 
what, with God’s blessing, grows upon 
our fields, is wantonly destroyed and 
needlessly devoured ; and we must bear 
it in silence, which is a wrong before 

4 


38 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

God and men. For when God created 
man, he gave him authority over all ani- 
mals, the beasts of the earth, the fowls 
of the air, and the fishes in the water. 
(Gen. i.. Acts xix., i Tim. iv., i Cor. x.. 
Col. ii.) We, therefore, desire, that if 
any one claims a lake or stream of wa- 
ter, that he shall show a legal title to it ; 
but if his title be unfounded, that he 
restore it to the district. 

“Article V. We are oppressed in 
regard to the forests. For our rulers 
have laid claim to all the woodlands, and 
if a poor man needs fuel he must buy 
it at an exorbitant price. We think 
that the woodlands, which were never 
purchased by the nobility or ecclesias- 
tics, should be restored to the districts ; 
and each one, under proper restrictions. 


THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 


39 


should be permitted to supply his rea- 
sonable wants without expense. Even 
for building purposes the supply should 
be free, but always with the knowledge 
and permission of the superintendent 
appointed by the district, that the de- 
struction of the timber may be avoided. 
But when there is no w^ood to be had 
save that which is purchased, then we 
should deal justly with the merchants. 
But if any claims timber, and afterwards 
offers it for sale, he should be dealt with 
properly, after due investigation, accord- 
ing to the law of Christian love and the 
Word of God. 

'‘Article VI. We feel the severity 
of the oppression laid upon us, which 
becomes more grievous from day to 
day. We petition our rulers to lighten 


40 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


our burdens, as the divine law com- 
mands, remembering that our fore- 
fathers served faithfully and patiently. 

“Article VII. We will not submit 
henceforth to be unduly oppressed by 
our rulers, but will render to them the 
obedience which is due to them. The 
ruler should not use force or compul- 
sion to secure unrewarded service or 
taxes from his subjects (Luke iii., Thess. 
vi.), but permit the peasant to use and 
enjoy his property in peace, without 
being oppressed ; but if the magistrate 
has need of service, the peasant should 
be willing to serve him in preference 
to any other, and that for reasonable 
wages, at suitable times, without per- 
sonal loss. 


THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 4I 

‘‘ Article VIII. We are burdened be- 
cause some of our nobility hold property 
that is not taxed, and the peasant is 
robbed of his earnings to make up the 
deficiency. We desire that the Gov- 
ernment appoint honest officers, who 
will collect only a reasonable tax, so 
that the peasant may not labor in vain ; 
for the laborer is worthy of his hire. 
(Matt. X.) 

“Article IX. We are wantonly op- 
pressed by new and arbitrary laws, 
under which we are punished without 
any apparent reason, at times through 
personal malice, and at other times for 
the selfish gratification of others. We 
think we should be judged and punished 
only according to our ancient written 
laws, and not for private or party re- 


4 


42 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

venge. (Is. x., Eph. vi., Luke iii., Jer. 
xvi.) 

“Article X. We are burdened by 
some who have appropriated certain 
meadows and fields which, of right, are 
the property of the community. Such 
property we wish to be restored to the 
district, unless it can be shown that the 
property has been honestly purchased 
by the claimant. If unjustly claimed, 
the title of the possessor, after due in- 
vestigation, should be righteously ad- 
justed. 

“Article XI. We wish to have the 
custom called death - event"^ entirely 

* Todesfall. The serfs being the property of their 
lords, had no power in law to leave- their property 
by will to their families, or to sign any testament, 
manu propria. Their hand was dead. This was the 
Todte Hand of the serf. 


THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 


43 


abrogated, and will not sanction or al- 
low that widows and orphans, contrary 
to God and right, shall be robbed of 
their property. God will no longer tol- 
erate such injustice, and no one hence- 
forth shall be compelled to pay much 
or little as the penalty of death. 

“Article XII. and last. It is our pur- 
pose to rescind any of these articles 
that are not in accordance with the 
Word of God, as soon as we are con- 
vinced, from Divine testimony, that such 
is the fact. And should any of these 
articles hereafter be found contrary to 
the Word of God, we are willing in 
such case to consider them as null and 
void ; and we will seek to be guided by 
that wisdom which God alone can give, 
and which we pray Him to grant to us. 


44 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


“The peace of God be with us. Amen.^^ 

A prolonged silence followed this 
reading. The men looked serious, and 
employed themselves with their thoughts. 
The knight Plorian G^yer of Geyers- 
berg, was the first to speak. 

“ As true as God is my helper, there 
is not an unreasonable demand in any 
of these articles. I will adopt them, 
and in their defence will venture my 
life. Our poor people are so deeply 
sunken in wretchedness that they can 
lose nothing.” 

“I agree with you,” said Weigand; 
“ though I cannot fight with you on the 
field of battle, yet will I stand by you 
with my best counsel.” 

“And I,” added the ex-Chancellor 
Hippier. 


THE TWELVE ARTICLES. 


45 


“ And I,” followed George Metzler of 
Ballenberg. “ I will send fresh messen- 
gers to my adherents, that they may 
speedily equip themselves and stand 
ready to carry out these articles. On 
the Sunday of Judica^ all shall be ready, 
if not sooner.” 

“ That ’s the word I like to hear ! ” 
exclaimed the rash and jubilant Jack- 
lein. are prepared. Only send 

word how soon your followers can join 
us, and we will welcome you with open 
arms.” 

“ Be it so,” said Florian Geyer. “And 
where shall we meet ? ” 

“In Tauberthal, if God so wills it,” 
answered George Metzler. “ And then 
— up and to Heilbronn! That city must 

* Fifth Sunday in Lent 


46 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


be ours as a rendezvous and rallying 
point for future operations.” 

“ So be it,” said the others ; and the 
secret conclave was ended. 

In a short time these men quietly left 
the inn one after another. Florian 
Geyer and Egbert went last, having 
mounted their steeds, which Jacklein’s 
servant led into the yard. 

“ A prosperous ride and a happy re- 
turn ! ” cried Jacklein to the knightly 
personages as they spurred their horses. 

In a moment they were on their rapid 
way in the approaching twilight. 



CHAPTER II. 


THE BROTHERS, 

ND now/' said the knight Florian 



to his comrade, as they leisurely 
rode together over the landscape, which 
was dimly illumined by the rising moon, 
— “ now, my dear Egbert, having made 
our business arrangements, let us speak 
something about your own private af- 
fairs. Have you any news from your 
brother Rolf, at Hoheneck ? " 

“Alas, yes ! but what I have heard of 
him is neither pleasant nor satisfactory," 
answered he, with a sigh. “ Rolf con- 


47 


48 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


tinues, as heretofore, to deny all my 
title to my father’s property, and will 
not deliver to me the estates of my 
mother, to which he has not the slight- 
est claim.” 

“ That is, according to my view, dis- 
honesty of the most odious character 
toward you,” added Florian ; “ but I am 
not yet fully acquainted with your fam- 
ily affairs. When you joined the lancers 
under my banner, and I received you 
into my full confidence, you said nothing 
of these things. Only a few days ago 
you stated that you had a dispute with 
your brother Rolf in regard to some in- 
heritance. That is all.” 

“If you wish to hear it, my noble, 
my fatherly friend,” replied Egbert, 
with feeling, “ it can be related in a few 


THE BROTHERS. 


49 


words. My father was married twice ; 
the first time to Fraulein von Hammer- 
stein, who bore him one son, Rolf, and 
five years afterwards died. My father, 
I have it from his own lips, felt very 
much lost, in the lonely castle of Hohen- 
eck, after her death, and endeavored to 
repair his loss by a second niarriage. 
In the castle of the Prince of Hohenlohe 
he made the acquaintance of Fraulein 
von Seltenberg, whose beauty, virtue, 
and piety won his affections. He sought 
her favor, and although he was full 
forty years of age, yet being of a hand- 
some form and a cheerful companion, 
he succeeded in gaining the hand and 
heart of the lady. Adelaide von Selten- 
berg was an orphan, but not without 
inheritance. The beautiful principality 
5 D 


, 50 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

in Franconia, which bears her name, 
belonged to her. A brother of her de- 
ceased mother, Count Treutling, was 
her guardian. He raised some objec- 
tions against the marriage of his niece 
to the wealthy nobleman of Hoheneck ; 
and in the written marriage contract he 
stipulated that the principality of Sel- 
tenberg should be retained in the free 
and undisturbed possession of his niece ; 
and in case she left children, that the 
undisputed title should remain with 
such children. Only in the event of 
her dying childless should my father’s 
son, Rolf, become heir of Seltenberg. 
The original document is in the archives 
of Hoheneck, and a copy was left with 
Count Treutling. All this I have 
learned from an aged servant of my 


THE BROTHERS. 


51 


mother, who was my attendant from 
my childhood, and has remained my 
faithful adherent. But unfortunately, 
this information, thus far, has not 
availed me. Six years ago my mother 
died, and shortly afterward my father 
followed her to the grave, and about the 
same time the old Duke Treutling 
also departed this life. Rolf and my- 
self were now orphans. He at that 
time was twenty-five years of age, and 
I only twelve. Unhappily for me, Rolf 
treated me very unlike a brother. He 
had always entertained envious senti- 
ments towards me ; but while my father 
and mother were yet living, he had the 
prudence artfully to conceal from them 
his hostility to me. He knew well, that 
our parents would not have permitted 


52 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


him to treat me with cruelty. After 
their death, he threw off the mask, and 
showed himself in his true character. 
He would then no longer endure me in 
the family room of the paternal castle, 
but drove me forth with abusive words, 
and threatened me with punishment if I 
should venture to be seen there. What 
could I do against his superior power ? 
He was a strong man, and I a weak, 
helpless, and unprotected youth. Rela- 
tives on my mother’s side there were 
none living, and my father’s kindred 
were driven away by the rude treat- 
ment of Rolf, so that no one was left to 
care for me, excepting good old Chris- 
topher, the servant of my deceased mo- 
ther. He found me weeping in the or- 
chard, after Rolf had banished me from 


THE BROTHERS. 


53 


the family hall. I was undetermined 
what to do, for there was no one to ad- 
vise or sympathize with me. He spoke 
to me and asked what had taken place ? 
To him I made known all my troubles. 

“‘The wretch!' exclaimed he. ‘He 
abuses his power over you shamefully. 
But have patience, the time will come 
when you will be more powerful than 
he, and when you will demand and re- 
ceive your rights, for you, and not Rolf, 
are the true heir of the handsome 
principality of Seltenberg in Franconia; 
and besides this, you have a well- 
grounded claim to one half of the estate 
of your father, who now rests in peace. 

I can easily see that you are a thorn in 
the flesh to your brother Rolf, but still 
he will not venture to lay violent hands 
5 ^ 


54 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


on you, at least not while I am living. 
From this time you are under my pro- 
tection, and woe to your unkind brother 
if he should attempt in malice to injure 
a hair of your head.’ 

“ The assurance of good old Christo- 
pher gave me but a moment’s comfort, 
for immediately afterward Rolf stood 
near to us with a fearfully frowning 
countenance. Seizing Christopher by 
the arm, he exclaimed threateningly, 
‘ Old traitor, will you turn on your 
master ? I will chase you from the cas- 
tle with dogs, you worthless hypocrite ! ’ 
So greatly was the face of Rolf dis- 
torted with rage, that the blood in my 
veins seemed chilled. But the vener- 
able servant was undisturbed, and look- 
ing steadily into the face of Rolf, while 


THE BROTHERS. 


55 


he pointed to me, he said, ‘ This youth 
is my master, not you, for I am a vassal 
of Seltenberg, and Seltenberg belongs 
to him. Him will I serve, over him will 
I watch, and him will I protect even 
against you. Know this. Sir Rolf von 
Hoheneck, old Christopher fears you 
not, and cannot be terrified by you. 
You can indeed drive me with force 
from the castle, bnt you will not dare to 
do so, when I tell you, that in that case 
I will ride from castle to castle, through 
all Franconia, and will stir up every 
honest knight to sustain the claims of 
young Egbert Reflect on this, young 
gentleman ! ’ 

‘‘^And who can prevent me from cast- 
ing you into the deepest dungeon into 
which neither sun nor moon can shine?' 


56 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

replied Rolf, boldly, but in a tremulous 
voice. 

“ ‘ What folly ! ' replied Christopher. 

‘ What benefit would that be to you ? 
Every vassal of the young nobleman 
Egbert’s mother thinks as I do, and 
would act as I would, in case of neces- 
sity. You are well aware of this. 
Therefore depart in peace. Egbert 
will remain under my care until he 
reaches his majority, and then, doubt- 
less, he will demand his rights from 
you. You are his natural guardian ; 
but as you will not act as his protector, 
another must be appointed to that 
office. Use now your own pleasure.’ 

“ My brother, without replying, turned 
his back on us and went into the castle. 
Christopher took me to his house, 


THE BROTHERS. 


57 


showed me two rooms, which he as- 
signed to my use, and there we lived 
quietly in his house which adjoined the 
castle. Rolf paid no attention to me, 
and appeared to forget my very exist- 
ence. If we met each other acciden- 
tally in the castle-yard or elsewhere, he 
turned his eyes away from me as from 
the most indifferent object. The faith- 
ful old servant, meanwhile, instructed 
me and cared for me like a father. He 
taught me to ride, to shoot, and the use 
of arms, and explained to me all the 
duties of knighthood. I lived thus 
happily and free from care, until, at the 
close of three months, my faithful Chris- 
topher was taken from me by a sudden 
death. At night he had retired as usual 
to his slumbers, cheerful and in good 


58 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

health ; in the morning I found him cold 
and lifeless in his bed. 

“ That was a severe blow to me, Sir 
Florian ; but I felt that I must put on the 
strength of manhood, and be a youth no 
longer, and that I must now meet my 
brother and demand from him my rights. 
This I did as soon as the corpse of good 
old Christopher had been deposited in 
the grave. From his funeral I proceeded 
to the castle, and presented myself be- 
fore my brother in his chamber. He 
received me sternly. T thought you 
would come,’ said he. ‘Your protec- 
tor is dead, and you seek another 
one. Now, if you be humble and obe- 
dient, and do not trouble me with your 
presence, you may remain here and 
eat the bread of charity.’ T wish no 


THE BROTHERS. 


59 


bread of charity, brother Rolf,’ I an- 
swered. ‘I demand that which of 
right is mine. Restore to me the in- 
heritance which belongs to me from my 
mother’s estate, and I will no longer 
annoy you with my presence.’ He 
laughed derisively. ‘You wish your 
mother’s estate ! ’ exclaimed he, in an 
insulting tone. ‘ Foolish boy, do you 
not know that I am my father’s eldest 
son, and that the whole estate left by 
my father falls to me alone ? I alone 
am heir of Hoheneck and Seltenberg, 
and if I give you the bread of charity, 
you may well thank God and me for 
my kindness.’ 

“‘That is not so, Rolf!’ replied I, 
with heat. ‘I insist upon my rights. 
Seltenberg, as you well know, belongs 


6o 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


to me, as the recorded and sealed docu- 
ments can prove.’ 

“ ‘ Where are the documents ? where 
the seals? Show them to me,’ said 
he. ‘ Where are they ? ’ 

‘“I have them not in my possession,’ 
I answered ; ‘ but I know that the doc- 
uments were placed here in the archives, 
and that Count Trending, my mother’s 
guardian, received a copy of the same.’ 

“‘Very well; go, then, among the 
archives and search for the writing,’ 
retorted he, mockingly. ‘ Here is the 
key ; go and search. I will not hinder 
you.’ 

“ I eagerly grasped the proffered 
key and hasted to the archives, which 
were placed in a vault in one of the 
thickest towers which flanked the cas- 


THE BROTHERS. 


6l 


tie of Hoheneck. I perceived that 
Rolf cast after me a scoffing look of 
triumph, and the painful thought was 
suggested to my mind that he might 
have destroyed the documents. But 
the recollection of the copy in the ar- 
chives of Trending afforded me some 
consolation. As I entered the vault 
where the ancient parchments and let- 
ters were stored away, the foul, damp 
atmosphere chilled me. Yet I paid no 
particular regard to it in my anxiety to 
find the document which was the foun- 
dation of my claim. The iron door of 
the vault I left standing open in order 
to afford more fresh air whilst I pursued 
my search. Suddenly the door was 
pushed 'shut, the key turned, and a loud 

laugh was heard outside. It was my 
6 


62 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


brother, who derided me for so blindly 
entering the trap he had set. 

“ I soon recovered my self-possession. 
I knew that there were about a dozen 
servants of Seltenberg in the castle, and 
that I could safely rely on their aid. I 
therefore continued, with the aid of my 
lamp, to search for the desired document, 
which, after several hours of anxious 
labor, I could not succeed in finding. I 
had turned every leaf among the ar- 
chives over and over, but the paper 
was not there. It must lie hid in some 
other place, or — my brother has de- 
stroyed it. He was open to such a sus- 
picion, for he hated me, and grasped 
after my inheritance. 

“ As I sat there disconcerted and re- 
flecting, the lock again rattled, ^and the 


THE BROTHERS. 


63 


door was opened. Rolf entered, ac- 
companied by a large and ferocious 
wolf-dog, that rushed towards me with 
menacing growls. In Rolf’s counte- 
nance were expressed scorn and 
triumph. 

*“Well, have you found the coveted 
scribbling?’ he asked me. ‘No,’" I 
answered. ‘God alone, besides your- 
self, knows where it is hidden. But He 
will not permit me to suffer from your 
injustice. Give me the document, Rolf, 
and I will relinquish all claim on my 
father’s estate, reserving only the right 
to that of my mother.’ 

“ A scornful laugh followed these 
words. ‘Boy,’ said he, ‘you have no 
rights beyond those which I choose to 
allow you. Not a hand’s breadth of 


64 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

land is yours, not one red penny. As 
a dependant on me you must live, a 
menial among menials, or you may 
travel through the land as a beggar. 
Which of the two do you choose ? ’ 

“‘Neither of them; I will have my 
dues,’ said I, firmly. ‘You will not 
withhold them from me, for if you at- 
tempt it, I will call on my people of 
Seltenberg to aid me, and then we will 
see which of us is strongest.’ 

“ Rolf laughed as before. ‘ I had 
expected that the young scorpion 
would sting,’ said he. ‘ Call your Sel- 
tenbergers. None of them will hear 
you, they are all gone. In order to ex- 
pedite our settlement, I confined you a 
couple of hours in this vault. Who 
will help you now ? ’ 


THE BROTHERS. 65 

“ ‘ I will obtain help, although I can- 
not now say where,' answered I. 

“ ‘ Then seek it ! ’ cried Rolf, con- 
temptuously. ‘You can now go: the 
doors and gates are open to you, and I 
will be glad if I never again see your 
hateful face. But beware of returning 
to this place ; nor let yourself be seen 
in the principality of Seltenberg, or you 
will rue it.' 

“With these threatening words he 
pointed to the door. I would have an- 
swered, but he did not permit me. 
‘Away! Be off!' he cried, ‘or I will 
hiss this dog on you, and let him tear 
you limb from limb I Away ! ' 

“I was necessitated to leave the in- 
furiated man, and escape from the cas- 
tle. Yet I did not abandon all hopes 
6* E 


66 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


of recovering my inheritance. I went 
to Trending. The magistrate there re- 
ceived me kindly, but with a hopeless 
shrug of the shoulder. Rolf had been 
there long before me, and had secured 
possession of the copy of the docu- 
ment which was so important to me. 
That he would not willingly restore it, 

I could well suppose. Having accom- 
plished nothing here, I turned my steps 
towards Seltenberg, fully determined to 
make an effort to take forcible posses- 
sion of the principality. I there relied 
upon the attachment of the citizens of 
Seltenberg, who had always manifested 
much love and kindness to me. But 
here also my brother Rolf had antici- 
pated me. The peasants and servants 
had been placed under a despotic yoke. 


THE BROTHERS. 


67 


through the iron rule of the captain of 
the castle appointed by Rolf; and no 
one ventured to afford me assistance, or 
even to recognize me as the rightful 
owner of the principality. It was only 
by a narrow chance that I escaped im- 
prisonment in Seltenberg, for the cap- 
tain of the castle had already sent out 
his guards to apprehend me, when I es- 
caped by a hasty flight under the cover 
of darkness. Deprived of all human 
aid and plunged in wretchedness, I saw 
no other resource than to apply some- 
where for employment as a knight’s 
squire. Thus I found you, knight 
Florian. You received the poor out- 
cast youth, and now all my hopes rest 
entirely on your protection and assist- 


ance. 


68 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


“ Both shall be granted to you,” re- 
turned the knight, right earnestly. 
“Your brother has acted disgracefully 
towards you, and I will be able to com- 
pel him to restore you the property 
of which he has robbed you. Force 
against force ! With my assistance 
you are now stronger than Rolf. Have 
patience only for a short time, and you 
shall be master of your own property.” 

“ But think you not, that it would be 
better first to speak again in kindness 
to Rolf? ” asked the youth. “ Perhaps 
when he finds that I enjoy your protec- 
tion, he will yield voluntarily, and then 
it will not be necessary to employ force 
against him.” 

“If you wish to make the experi- 
ment, I have no objection,” answered 


THE BROTHERS. 


69 


Florian. “Only reflect that I cannot 
accompany you. My duty calls me to 
my people. But how if your brother, 
when he hears your warning, instead of 
complying with your demand, should 
cast you into prison ? ” 

“He will not dare to do so, he will 
not do so,” answered the youth. “Your 
name is renowned far and near, and he 
will fear to bid you defiance.” 

“ Then, in God’s name, hunt him up,” 
replied Florian. “ And whatever be the 
result, I will not forsake you.” 

The youth Egbert expressed his 
thanks with warmth, and shortly after- 
wards the two horsemen reached the 
place they had designed for their night 
quarters. The knight of Geyersberg 
then directed his course to Franconia, 


70 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


where his small force, called the Black 
Cavalry, awaited him as their com- 
mander; but Egbert bent his way to 
his paternal castle. With a warm grasp 
of the hand, the two friends parted. 




CHAPTER III. 

THE STORM BURSTS. 

I N the early days of April, 1525, the 
peasants of Suabia rose against 
their oppressors, and their example was 
followed soon after by those of Franco- 
nia and the Odenwald. George Metzler 
of Ballenberg moved out of Oberschiipf 
to the sound of the trumpet, and bear- 
ing on a staff a shoe as his banner. The 
peasants, as numerous as swarming bees, 
from all quarters hastened to join him. 
The wealthy monastery of the Cistercian 
monks at Jagdgrund was seized, and for 

a time held by him as his headquarters. 

71 


72 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


At this place he was reinforced from 
Halle by the peasants, who informed 
him that the standard of revolt had been 
raised in the valley of the Neckar by 
Jacklein Rohrbach, who had been chosen 
leader, and who had taken possession 
of the village of Docking, and had there 
established himself. He had captured 
the magistrates, confined them in the 
tower, and was now laying waste the 
surrounding country. • 

A short time after, Jacklein himself ar- 
rived at the head of his forces, and here 
also Florian Geyer made his appearance 
with his Black Cavalry, to join the rebels 
of the Odenwald and the Neckar valley. 

A panic seized upon the hearts of the 
nobility and of the priesthood. In view 
of the general insurrection, many of 


THE STORM BURSTS. 


73 


them, as the Prince of Hohenlohe, chose 
the wiser plan, and after indorsing the 
Twelve Articles, joined the so-called 
Christian Brotherhood, and thus pre- 
served their possessions and, perhaps, 
also, their liberty and lives. Those who 
refused to join the Band had the worst 
to endure, for the number of the peas- 
ants continued to multiply, and they de- 
stroyed, burned, and slaughtered wher- 
ever they met with resistance. 

From Booking they pursued their 
course to CEhring. Here a part of the 
force separated to return to the Tauber; 
but Florian Geyer, with his cavalry, 
which he had formed almost exclusively 
of trained soldiers in Franconia, and the 
main army, under George Metzler and 
Jacklein Rohrbach, proceeded further 
7 


74 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


towards the valley of the Neckar; for 
the chief object of attack was the city of 
Heilbronn and the strong fortification 
of Weinsberg. Town and castle must 
yield on their way to become strategic 
points for future operations. 

Having arrived at Neckarsulm, a vil- 
lage situated six miles from Weinsberg, 
the leaders summoned the peasants of 
Weinsberg and their knights to join 
their Christian Brotherhood. But the 
governor of Weinsberg, the young 
Count Louis Helferich of Helfenstein, 
prolonged the interview in the hope of 
receiving reinforcements from Stuttgart, 
and was even guilty of treachery; for 
during the negotiations he ordered his 
cavalry to attack the peasants in the 
rear, and many of them were thus 


THE STORM BURSTS. 


75 


killed or wounded. When this became 
known, the peasants became enraged 
and broke up the parley, declaring that 
they would now seek vengeance. They 
moved against Weinsberg with their 
entire force, numbering eight thousand 
men, filled with fury and thirsting for 
revenge. 

Early in the morning of April 1 6th, 
during the Easter festival, they en- 
camped on the Schemelberg, opposite 
the city of Weinsberg, in order of battle, 
and sent two heralds — distinguished by 
the official hat, which they carried on a 
tall flagstaff — to demand the surrender 
of the city. 

Count Louis of Helfenstein was mean- 
while not idle; but having information 
of the threatening designs of the peas- 


76 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


ants, he had made precautionary ar- 
rangements. Already before daybreak 
were his cavalry and knights ready, and 
a reinforcement of five knights was 
added to the slender guard of the for- 
tress. More than these could not be 
spared, although the Countess Helfen- 
stein, with her child and many treasures, 
was in the fortress. The Count looked 
with such supreme contempt on the 
peasants, that he would not believe it 
possible that they could successfully 
storm so strong a fortification. He 
was satisfied to strengthen the city 
against the first attack, and he there- 
fore ordered the necessary defences to 
be erected for the protection of the 
gates and the moat. 

He assembled his soldiers and the 


THE STORM BURSTS. 


77 


citizens in the market-place, and encour- 
aged them to be fearless and to do their 
best, promising them to stand by them 
faithfully, although he should be com- 
pelled to leave his wife and child in the 
fortress. He also gave them the dis- 
tinct assurance that on that very day 
a large cavalry force from Stuttgart was 
hastening to their assistance. 

In response, those who were present 
promised to make a brave resistance 
against the peasants, and straightway 
proceeded to occupy the outworks. 

At nine o’clock in the morning, the 
peasants advanced, and their heralds 
approached the city gate. At this place 
a vain knight, who despised the peas- 
ants as though they were flies, had com- 
mand. He stepped forward to the 


7 


78 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

breastwork, and addressed the herald 
in a rude manner : 

“ What do you want ? ” 

“Open the fortress and city to the 
true Christian army ! ” cried the heralds 
to those on the wall. “ If you will not, 
we beg you, for God’s sake, to remove 
the women and children ; for both for- 
tress and city will be given over to plun- 
der, and there will be quarter shown to 
none.” 

“ Miserable vermin ! ” cried the knight 
of Weiler, in reply, “’t would be a pity 
for a knight to hold converse with such 
creatures as you. With bullets only 
will I address you. 

“ Fire on the wretches ! ” he then 
cried to the musketeers. “ Fire ! spare 
not the mean dogs ! Down with them ! ” 


THE STORM BURSTS. 


79 


Several shots were fired. One of the 
two heralds sunk wounded to the 
ground, but raised himself again, and 
ran, assisted by his companion, as fast 
as he could, back to his brethren. The 
derisive laugh of Dietrich von Weiler 
sounded after them. 

“ There they run like hares ! ” cried 
he. “So will they all run, after they 
have once butted their hard skulls 
against our walls.” 

The peasants, meanwhile, had seen 
from the Schemelberg all that had oc- 
curred before the city gate, and a gen- 
eral exclamation of indignation and 
rage rose to the clouds. 

“ At them, the vile traitors ! ” cried 
Jacklein Rohrbach, in a towering rage. 
“ Break in the gates, tear them down 1 ” 


8o 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


Filled with deadly hate, and with a 
wild war-cry, the peasants hastened to 
advance. In the front ranks proceeded 
a tall, haggard woman, with dishevelled 
gray hair, that flowed loosely over her 
shoulders. Brown Hofmannin by 
name, she fired the rage of the multi- 
tude, with her cries, to the wildest ven- 
geance, 

“Kill theml” she shrieked, with a 
voice so shrill that it was heard above 
the general tumult. “ Murder them all, 
it must be so, for God wills it. De- 
struction to them, the noble traitors, 
their bullets will not injure you ! ” 

Thus the first attack was made on 
the lower gate, whilst the peasants with 
their ladders sought to scale the walls. 
But the citizens of the place, under the 








THE STORM BURSTS. 


8i 


directions of Count Helfenstein, made 
a vigorous defence, throwing large 
stones from the walls and turrets, firing 
through the loop-holes, and piercing 
their opponents with long spears and 
halbefds. Many of the peasantry were 
killed, others were wounded, but the re- 
mainder were not disheartened. Their 
axes hewed the gates, their muskets 
thinned the ranks of the citizens and 
men-at-arms, and Jacklein, the foremost 
of all, swore death and fire to the Weins- 
bergers. The gates would not yield, 
and now the peasantry brought logs 
and battering-rams, and therewith thun- 
dered against them. 

Meanwhile the other gates had been 
stormed, and the first triumphal cry of 
the peasants was heard from the small 

F 


82 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


gate near the church. There, with aid 
from within, having succeeded in prying 
open the gate, they rushed like a mighty 
torrent through the streets of the city. 

“ Behold, behold, the Lord has de- 
livered the traitors into our hands ! ” 
exclaimed, in shrill tones, the voice of 
Brown Hofmannin, as she pointed with 
her long arms to the strong fortress of 
the city. “ Our standards wave from 
the towers of the fortress ; they are the 
triumphal banners of Florian Geyer’s 
Black Cavalry. Those brave men have 
succeeded best of all, and the victory is 
ours.” 

The loud triumphant cry of the be- 
siegers struck a panic to the hearts of 
the besieged, which crippled their efforts 
and robbed them of all courage. In 


THE STORM BURSTS. 83 

vain did Dietrich von Weiler ride 
through the city, to encourage the men- 
at-arms and citizens to resistance ; in 
vain did Count Helfenstein, regardless 
of death, oppose the constantly increas- 
ing onsets of the peasantry ; in vain did^ 
every knight do his utmost to resist : all 
their efforts were unavailing. The citi- 
zens descended from the walls, and 
threw away their weapons. Even the 
Count himself acknowledged the futility 
of further bloodshed, and authorized a 
citizen, with a hat placed on a flag-staff 
extended from the pinnacle of the lower 
gate, to cry for quarter to the enemy, 
and to offer the surrender of the city, 
on the condition that the lives of all 
should be spared. Others also cried: 

“ Quarter, for God’s sake, quarter ! ” 


84 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


Jacklein Rohrbach then stepped for- 
ward and replied : “ So be it, the citi- 
zens shall be spared, but every knight 
must die ! ” 

“ Be merciful ! ” prayed Schwabhan- 
'nes, who had first proposed peace, and 
beside whom, on the wall, stood the 
Count. “At least spare this noble 
lord.” 

“We exempt none^ but least of all 
this man Helfenstein,” thundered Jack- 
lein, in reply. “ Did he spare us in the 
least ? He must die, were he worth his 
weight in gold.” 

A deadly terror seized the Count 
when he heard these words, and he de- 
termined to save himself by a speedy 
flight. Many knights joined with him 
in his purpose. But just as they were 


THE STORM BURSTS. 


85 


about to mount their saddles in the 
market square, they were surrounded 
by a crowd of women and children, 
who blocked up their way of escape. 

“Will you leave us alone?'’ cried 
they to the knight. “You were the 
cause of this misfortune to our city, 
and you should share it with us.” 

“ Make room ! ” cried Count Helfen- 
stein in reply, as he spurred his horse 
with the design of breaking through 
the mass. It was too late. 

From four quarters right through the 
city advanced the peasants with wild 
and threatening cries, and with a power 
that was irresistible. In every direction 
were seen their fierce countenances and 
their menacing eyes all thirsting for 

blood. 

8 


86 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


The knights could no longer think of 
flight. Against them the vengeance of 
the peasants was especially turned. To 
the citizens the advancing host ex- 
claimed, “ Return to your houses with 
your wives and children ; no harm shall 
be done to you.” 

The citizens obeyed ; but Count Hel- 
fenstein with his knights sought to gain 
the upper church and burial-ground, 
there to defend their lives, or to save 
themselves in the church. As the Count 
entered the building, a priest met him 
with these hurried words : 

“This way, noble sir. Ascend this 
stairway, and you can reach the plat- 
form of the tower, whence you may find 
a way of escape.” 

The Count lost no time in obeying the 


THE STORM BURSTS. 87 

hint, and ascended, accompanied by 
eighteen knights and men-at-arms. 

But the peasants were in close pur- 
suit. The few who in the burial-ground 
were brave enough to make any defence, 
were soon cut down or scattered, and 
then the church-doors were forced open 
with battering-rams. With wild cries 
the peasants rushed into the church and 
slaughtered every one that had taken 
refuge there. They even forced their 
way into the burial-vaults, and slew all 
who had sought safety therein. 

But thus far they had not found 
Count Helfenstein, Dietrich vonWeiler, 
or others of the nobility. Jacklein Rohr- 
bach thirsted for their blood, and yelled 
with disappointed fury at his inability to 
find them, till at length the secret stair- 


88 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


case was discovered, and a universal 
shout of triumph arose from the body 
of the church. 

“ Here we have the whole nest to- 
gether. Kill them all ! ” cried Jacklein. 

The peasants immediately rushed for- 
ward ; but the staircase was so narrow 
that only one at a time could find access. 
Those who had sought refuge on the 
tower now regarded themselves as lost. 
Dietrich von Weiler stepped forth on 
the platform and addressed the peas- 
ants who were standing below. 

“ Hearken to me, ye people ! ” he 
called out. “We are willing to surren- 
der to you, and to pay you thirty thou- 
sand guilders, provided you spare our 
lives.” 

“ If you could give us a ton of gold,” 


THE STORM BURSTS. 


was the fearful reply, “we would not 
accept. The Count as well as the rest 
of you must die. We will show no 
mercy.” 

“No mercy ! ” cried other voices. 
“Vengeance, vengeance for the blood 
of our brothers! Vengeance for the 
seven thousand slaughtered at Wurz- 
ach 1 ” 

These seven thousand had shortly 
before been suddenly attacked by an 
overwhelming force under Count Truch- 
sess of Waldburg, and all slaughtered to 
the last man, not excepting even those 
who threw down their arms and begged 
for mercy. 

“Vengeance! vengeance!” sounded 
from a thousand voices. At this mo- 
ment a report was heard, and Dietrich 
8 * 


90 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


von Weiler, pierced through the neck, 
fell back on the platform of the tower. 

The peasants, who had by this time 
forced their way up the stairs, fell with 
irresistible fury on the knights and 
their followers. Th^ narrow space was 
densely crowded, and from the outset 
no thought of successful resistance was 
entertained. Many sunk dead where 
they had stood. -Others, like the 
wounded Dietrich, were cast headlong 
over the banisters of the tower into the 
burial-grounds below. Count Helfen- 
stein alone, with a few brave adherents, 
feebly and wearily resisted. They too 
must shortly yield to overwhelming 
numbers. 

Help now arrived. 

“ Hold ! ” cried a powerful voice, and 


THE STORM BURSTS. 


91 


a strong man threw himself, regardless 
of the danger, between the -comba- 
tants. 

“ Hold, Jacklein ! Back, ye people, 
or your halberds must open a way 
through my body ! ” 

“George Metzler — you!” cried Jack- 
lein, with a countenance pale with rage 
— you defend these hangmen ? Away ! 
Let our vengeance have fair play ! ” 
“Not so ; no murder!” replied Metz- 
ler, composedly. “Take these people 
prisoners. A just trial shall be given 
to them, and a righteous sentence pro- 
nounced ; but no man shall murder 
them so long as I have life, and can 
prevent it.” 

Foaming with rage and thirsting for 
blood, Jacklein was compelled not only 


92 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


to submit, but to see that the commands 
of George Metzler should be obeyed by 
the peasants, who loved him more than 
the former, and whom they had chosen 
commander - in - chief. Count Helfen- 
stein with his attendants was therefore 
disarmed and bound, and thus led down 
from the tower. A wild cry greeted 
them as they reached the ground, and 
scores of weapons were aimed at them. 
Before George Metzler could prevent 
it, a peasant pierced the Count in his 
side with his halberd, and another in- 
flicted a wound on the head of one of 
his companions, the knight George von 
Kaltenthal. But neither of the wounds 
were serious, and without any further 
outrage George Metzler succeeded in 
protecting his prisoners. They were 


THE STORM BURSTS. 


93 


taken away and securely confined. Jack- 
lein Rohrbach offered himself as their 
guard, swearing that none of them 
should escape. Metzler, depending 
upon his promise, delivered them to 
Jacklein, greatly to their misfortune, as 
we shall presently see. 

It was scarcely ten o’clock in the 
morning, and the contest was over. 
The entire city was in the hands of the 
peasants, and there remained no one 
who could offer them resistance. 

While the people plundered the 
houses of the chief adherents of the 
nobility, and forced their way into the 
churches and the fortress, the leaders 
and other officers met in council of 
war. 

All attended, even the ex-Chancellor 


94 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


Wendel Hippier, who had taken no 
active part in the fight, but expected to 
participate in its profits. The knight 
Florian Geyer alone was absent. When 
he made his appearance, a heavy cloud 
rested on his brow, and his dark eye 
burned with a suppressed fire. With- 
out paying any regard to the congratu- 
lations and compliments showered upon 
him, for the speedy capture of the for- 
tress, he expressed his grief on account 
of the disorderly conduct of the peas- 
ants, who had rushed like savage crea- 
tures into the houses of the citizens, 
and seized on every thing that their 
cupidity might fancy. 

“ And it is particularly your people, 
Jacklein Rohrbach, who are most ready 
to steal, rob, and plunder,” said he, with 


THE STORM BURSTS. 


95 


angry scorn. “ Shame upon you, man, 
that you do not keep better discipline 
in your command. Even into the for- 
tress some of your band forced their 
way, and attempted to snatch the chains 
and rings from the necks of the Countess 
and her attendants. This last outrage, 
I am happy to say, I was able to pre- 
vent, and to drive away your minions, 
but could not hinder them from setting 
fire to the building! Look out your- 
self I The fortress is now enveloped in 
flames, and that which could have been 
a secure point of defence for us, will be 
but a heap of smouldering ruins in two 
short hours. And for this we must 
thank you, Jacklein. For shame I ” 
Jacklein bit his lips with rage, and 
rising hastily, was on the point of giving 


96 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

an angry reply; but George Metzler 
here again acted the part of a mediator, 
drew Jacklein back to his seat, and said, 
in a decisive tone : 

“ Knight Geyer has only spoken the 
truth ! I, too, alas ! have seen with 
my own eyes how your people abuse 
and torture the peaceable citizens, not 
excepting even those who cleave to our 
party. I advise you, Jacklein, to see to 
the better deportment of your people, 
or we will be compelled to bring you 
yourself to account.” 

“You speak to me as if I were your 
servant and subordinate ; you may as 
well dismiss that idea from your mind,” 
answered Jacklein, defiantly. “Do as 
you please, and / will do as I choose — 
and so farewell.” 


THE STORM BURSTS. 


97 


With these words he rose and left the 
council, slamming the door violently as 
he departed. Metzler would have fol- 
lowed him to call him to account for his 
improper conduct, but the other officers 
held him back, and Wendel Hippier 
said : 

“Let him go. He will soon calm 
down if we do not irritate him further. 
He is an efficient man, though he 
knows no control ; but his people ad- 
here faithfully to him, and it would be 
dangerous to drive him to extremes.” 

“ It is unfortunate that we must have 
regard to such men,” said knight Flo- 
rian. “ It would be best to banish him 
from the army entirely if he will not or 
cannot maintain better discipline.” 

“ That would never do ; he is too 
G 


9 


98 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

powerful,” replied Hippier. “And, be- 
sides this, the overbearing nobility and 
the proud priesthood have deserved a 
severe rod of correction. And now, 
gentlemen, if you please, let us speak 
of other things. First, knight Florian, 
where have you placed the Countess 
Helfenstein ? ” 

“She is under my protection, with her 
infant son and her female attendants,” 
answered Florian, coldly and proudly. 
“ I hope, nevertheless, that we carry on 
war with men and not with women.” 

“ True,” answered Hippier, mildly and 
with politeness. “ The Countess is your 
lawful captive, and you can obtain a 
handsome ransom for her. And now 
what is to be done? We must not re- 
main here idly — at least so think I” 


THE STORM BURSTS. 


99 


“ Indeed, no ; but we must proceed,” 
said Metzler. “All the monasteries in 
the surrounding districts must be closed, 
and the lazy monks must hew, dig, and 
labor like the peasants.” 

“We must first,” interposed Florian, 
“move on Heilbronn, and then invade 
the districts of Mainz and Wurzburg. 
This being done, we must drive out all 
the bishops, priests, and spiritual lords, 
and destroy the principalities. For,” 
added he, with elevated voice, “if the 
people are to be made truly and perma- 
nently free, the nobility, as well as the 
priesthood, must be brought to the level 
of the peasants, so that there will be but 
one grade on the soil of Germany — 
that of common freedom.” 

From such a course, which aimed at 


lOO 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


eradicating the entire cause of the peo- 
ple’s oppression, the others shrunk with 
fear, and favored the plan of the wily 
Wendel Hippier, who advised that the 
nobility should be induced to favor the 
interests of the people. 

“ I will also favor,” said he, “ the sup- 
pression of all the burdens that oppress 
the people ; but that which the lords and 
noblemen lose in taxes, gifts, and other 
incomes I would replace with seques- 
trated properties, and in this way gain 
their co-operation and their consent to 
the liberty of the peasantry. Why 
shall we not permit the nobility to join 
our union ? They have the same cause 
to complain of the princes as the peasants 
have, and we should help each other to 
free ourselves from the same yoke.” 


THE STORM BURSTS. 


lOI 


George Metzler agreed fully to these 
sentiments, and the other officers in- 
clined to this proposition of Hippier’ s, 
which was finally adopted, contrary to 
the warnings of knight Florian. 

“Never,” said he, “wiH the nobility 
honestly make common cause with the 
peasants, but will use the poor people 
only as an instrument, which, after their 
service has been rendered, they will feel 
at liberty to cast away or destroy. I 
know the nobility better than you do, for 
I myself, as you well know, belong to 
one of the noblest families. Therefore 
hearken to me before it be too late.” 

But the others, disregarding his ad- 
vice, adhered to the plan of Hippier. 

“Well, then, do that which you will 
afterwards regret,” said Florian, with 


102 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


deep feeling. “At the time when I cast 
off my knightly mantle, and drew my 
sword in behalf of the oppressed peo- 
ple, I did so for the freedom of all ; not 
for the removal of a part, but for the 
destruction of all tyranny and oppres- 
sion. You are not willing to gain all ; 
beware lest you lose all ! ” 

After these words, which were lis- 
tened to with but little interest, Florian 
Geyer left the assembly, oppressed with 
painful forebodings, which, alas, were 
verified only too soon. The others re- 
mained in council until the approach of 
night, and then each one weariedly 
sought his couch. A quiet and peace- 
ful repose pervaded the city. There 
was b^ one place where there was 
vigilance, and thither we must pass. 



CHAPTER IV. 

yACKLEIN^S REVENGE. 

O sooner had Jacklein, with burn- 



T ^ ing rage, turned his back on the 
council, than he sought his quarters, and 
invited, as his evening guests, the woman 
called brown Hofmannin and a number 
of his subaltern officers, upon whose 
thirst for blood and their warm adhe- 
rence to his person he could rely with 
safety. 

“Wait, you simpletons,” he mur- 
mured, with wrath, to himself ; “ I will 
show you once for all how I intend to 


104 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


carry on the war against our haughty 
oppressors. Neither the vain knight 
Florian nor the simple Metzler, who, as 
one pursuing an ignis fatuus^ dances in 
the track of the artful Wendel Hippier, 
shall prevent me from doing my will. 
It shall burst on them like the vivid 
lightning from a clear sky, and then will 
they see that the. victory can not be 
gained unless we wade ankle-deep in 
the blood of our enemies. This shall 
be my way.” 

As he sat in deep and quiet gloom of 
mind in his chamber, his guests arrived ; 
first the woman brown Hofmannin, who 
was soon followed by the peasant offi- 
cers. Jacklein bid them all welcome, and 
treated them freely to wine. He then 
revealed to them a well-digested plan, 


jXcklein’s revenge. 105 

which, in its cruel details, caused even 
the most savage of the officers to shud- 
der and turn pale, and was welcomed 
with fiend-like gratification by brown 
Hofmannin alone. 

“That’s right, Jacklein ! ” she cried, 
clapping her bony hands together with 
delight. “You are the only man in this 
whole crowd ; and therefore I commend 
you as a minister of vengeance. Death, 
and nothing but death, to the nobles and 
priests ! Don’t allow yourself to be 
misled, and don’t give up your plan, 
Jacklein ; for God, who has delivered 
the rascals into our hands, will have it 
thus.” 

Her savage eloquence carried captive 
the hitherto undecided and fearful peas- 
ants. They now resolved to carry out 


io6 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


the plan of Jacklein. It was near mid- 
night when they separated. 

“ Be silent as the grave,” said Jack- 
lein, in conclusion, to them. “ None 
except ourselves dare know anything 
of it ; for if it were to come to the ears 
of George Metzler or of Florian Geyer, 
they would hinder us, and snatch the 
prey from our grasp. So, not a word. 
Let them hear of it after the deed is 
done.” 

The men all promised secrecy ; and 
brown Hofmannin, whom they all be- 
lieved to be a witch and an adept in all 
the black arts, threatened them with the 
most fearful punishments if they dared 
divulge the plan. 

Thus they separated, but only for a 
few hours. Long before sunrise the 


jXcklein’s revenge. 107 

drums beat to arms in Jacklein’s com- 
mand. The other portions of the army 
did not hear the alarm, for Jacklein’s 
division lay outside the town. He ad- 
dressed his men, and told them that the 
prisoners must all die, every man of 
them, and the mode of death to be im- 
paling upon spears. 

The men expressed a vociferous ap- 
proval, and desired the orders for an im- 
mediate execution. Jacklein gave the 
signal for the leading forth of the prison- 
ers. They came laden with chains and 
fetters, surrounded by a crowd of yell- 
ing and howling peasants, who derided 
the helpless captives and loaded them 
with reproaches. Here stood Count 
Louis von Helfenstein, Burkhard von 
Ehing, John Conrad Schenk von Win- 


io8 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


terstet, Friedrich von Neuhof, John 
Dietrich von Wetterstet, the bailiff of 
Neuhofen, Philip von Bernhaus, John 
Spat von Hopfigheim, Bleikard von 
Riexing, Rudolf von Hirnheim, Wolf 
Rauch von Helfenberg, Georg von 
Kaltenthal, Felix Eigen von Eigenhof, 
and Weitbrecht von Riexing. Besides 
these, a number of youthful pages were 
brought out. They were all ranged in 
the meadow, which now consists of gar- 
dens, and the peasants formed a circle 
around them. 

“ Hear me, ye murderers, traitors, 
and tyrants,” cried Jacklein, with a voice 
like thunder. “For years — for many 
years ye have driven the peasants before 
you with dogs, and in hunger and suf- 
fering they were treated by you as dogs, 


jAcklein’s revenge. 109 

and over their skinny shoulders ye 
applied the scourge without pity; for 
petty offences ye cast them into prisons, 
and let them perish there on bread and 
water; ye trampled on us, and spit in 
our faces ; and in these very days even 
ye treacherously murdered our breth- 
ren, whilst your lips overflowed with 
hypocritical words of peace. But God 
has now delivered you into the power 
of the peasants, and from my lips shall 
ye now receive your righteous sentence. 
As ye have lived without honor, and 
without compassion to others, so shall 
ye die. Ye shall be impaled upon the 
spear, as common, worthless hinds, to 
your own shame and disgrace. A 
knightly death ye have not deserved ! 

“ Form a double line, men ! ” said he 

10 


no 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


then to the peasants, who, with a wild 
cry, joyfully obeyed. 

“Jacklein,” said Count Helfenstein, 
whilst the peasants formed their ranks, 
“ thirty thousand guldens will I give you 
if you will release me.” 

“Could you give me tons of gold, 
yet must you die,” replied the vengeful 
Jacklein. “ Is ’t not so, my men ? ” 

“ Die ! die ! — one and all ! ” shouted 
the peasants, whose fury thirsted for 
blood. “ Their lives we will have, and 
now ; their money we will take after- 
wards ! ” 

Meanwhile the ranks were formed, 
Jacklein’s satellites in front. The peas- 
ants pointed their lances, and John Weld- 
ner, a man of Neckargartach, beat the 
drum, as was customary at that day during 


jXcklein’s revenge. 


Ill 


an execution. Suddenly the crowd of 
peasants in the rear began to press for- 
ward for the purpose of forcing the 
condemned to cast themselves into the 
arms of their terrible death. The fear- 
ful tragedy was about to be consum- 
mated. 

Suddenly a piercing cry rent the air, 
and a youthful, beautiful woman, in 
splendid attire, a tender babe in her 
arms, forced her way through the crowd, 
and threw herself at the feet of Jack- 
lein. 

Have pity, have mercy, if you your- 
self look for mercy in eternity ! ” cried 
she, in tones of despair, to the savage 
Jacklein. “With joy will I sacrifice all 
my earthly fortune. Take my jewels, 
my property, my gold, and all that is 


II2 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


mine, and give me but the life of my 
unhappy husband and of his fellow- 
sufferers ! ” 

“ And who is your husband, woman? ^ 
was the rude reply. 

“ Count Louis von Helfenstein. Oh, 
spare his life. We will swear an eter- 
nal peace, and never again lift a weapon 
against you ! ” 

Undisturbed and unmoved, Jacklein 
gazed on the noble woman who bent 
crouching in the dust before him. With 
cold looks and adamantine faces, the 
peasants looked on her without a spark 
of pity. Brown Hofmannin regarded 
her with fiendish triumph and pitiless 
severity. 

“ Can you now beg and entreat, you 
who have been accustomed to heap 


jAcklein’s revenge. 113 

curses and maledictions on the poor 
peasants ? ” said she, in a voice that 
sounded as harsh as that of clanging 
metal. “ You come too late. Hearken 
not to the silly jade, Jacklein. Chase 
her away or drive her, with her husband, 
upon the spear-points. No mercy, no 
pity for the noble brood ! ” 

“ No pity ! no mercy!” cried the peas- 
ants in unison, and one of their number 
aimed a blow at the infant in the arms 
of the unhappy mother, so that it was 
slightly wounded, and wept loudly with 
pain and fright. This excited the laugh- 
ter of the inhuman beings, and without 
thinking further of the despairing Coun- 
tess, they once more applied themselves 
vigorously to shoving the prisoners upon 
the points of the levelled lances. 

10* H 


II4 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

Another cry of agony was uttered by 
the wretched woman, and with incon- 
ceivable strength she pressed back the 
peasants, and threw herself on the 
breast of her condemned husband. 

“ Louis ! Louis ! ” cried she, in heart- 
rending tones, “ can God look down 
unmoved, and see what these fiends are 
doing? Should not his lightning fall 
upon them and blast them ? ” 

“ Compose thyself, dear wife,” an- 
swered the Count. “ Be quiet, and 
humble thyself no further before these 
people. My lot is cast ; no deliverance 
is possible. Let me then, at least, meet 
death with steadfastness.” 

“You have talked enough,” cried 
brown Hofmannin, as she seized the 
Countess and tore her from the arms 


jXcklein’s revenge. 115 

of her husband, and dragged her back 
to her former place among the deriding 
peasants. “Let the work be finished, 
Jacklein, before George Metzler and 
Florian Geyer come and rob us of our 
sport.’' 

“Yes, yes ; forward ! ” cried Jacklein. 
“ Drive them against the spears ! For- 
ward ! ” 

The peasants obeyed with bloodthirsty 
howls. The first one that was pushed, 
after the drum beat, against the double 
line of spearmen, was the page of Con- 
rad Schenk von Winterstet. He was 
immediately pierced to death. Next in 
order came his master. He also sunk 
to the earth with his wounds. 

“ ’Tis now your turn, sir Count,” cried 
a fierce haggard fellow, with a wild look, 


Il6 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

as he stepped close to the Count, adding, 
“ Do you know me ? ” 

“Well do I know you, Melchior Non- 
nenmacher, the fifer of Ilsfeld,” replied 
the Count. “ Are you too come to 
push me against the spears, and thus to 
thank me for feeding you so often at my 
table and filling your empty purse with 
money ? ” 

“ Oho ! boast not of your liberality to 
me,” answered the fifer, boldly. “If I 
have played for you at dances and en- 
tertainments, then are we quits. I will 
show you that the times are changed.” 

After these words, he seized the 
plumed hat of the Count and placed it 
on his own shaggy head. 

“Look at me. Count,” said he then, 
mockingly. “You have had this long 


jAcklein’s revenge. 


117 


enough, and I want to be a Count for a 
while. Now, mark me ! If I have often 
fifed for you at dance and table, I will 
now fife you a new dance.” 

At this, he proceeded, amid the rough 
applause of the peasants, to blow his 
fife merrily in front of the Count until 
they approached the open ranks. 

“ Now dance away ! ” he cried, giving 
him a push so strong that he fell among 
the spearmen, and, amid the heart- 
rending lamentations of the wretched 
Countess, which were, however, drowned 
by the wild vociferations of the peas- 
ants, Count Helfenstein breathed his 
last. 

Other victims followed, and their 
blood dyed the spears of the peasants, 
whose thirst for blood could not be sat- 


Il8 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

isfied with the destruction of life alone ; 
for they mutilated in the most shocking 
manner the dead bodies of the slaugh- 
tered prisoners. Jacklein himself did not 
refrain from taking part in the bloody 
scene ; for he tore from the bloody 
body of the unfortunate Count a dam- 
ask sash, and, ornamenting himself 
therewith, stepped jeeringly before the 
weeping Countess, and said, “ Now, my 
good woman, how do I please you in 
my new sash ? ” 

The Countess had no reply to make 
to this cruel address, but almost sunk 
under the terror of seeing before her 
the murderer arrayed in the trappings 
of her slaughtered husband. But the 
peasants paid little regard to her deep 
sorrows. With rude hands they tore 


jXcklein’s revenge. 119 

her jewels and ornaments from her per- 
son, disarranged her dress, and •then 
placed her, with cruel gibes, along with 
her wounded infant son and her terri- 
fied women, on a truck-wagon, thus to 
carry her to Heilbronn. 

“ This is the way ! ’’ cried the dark- 
faced Hofmannin, with mocking laugh- 
ter. ‘'You came to Weinsberg in a 
golden chariot, and now must leave it 
in a truck-wagon ! ” 

The boisterous ridicule of the rabble 
sounded loud and long in the wake of 
the unhappy woman, and the excited 
crowd triumphed in the insults heaped 
upon her, when suddenly there appeared 
a mounted knight in sombre-hued armor, 
who drew in his bridle-reins in front of 
the astonished Jacklein. He threw back 


120 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


the visor of his helmet, and cast a pier- 
cing look of anger, scorn, and hatred 
upon Jacklein and his barbarous com- 
rades. 

“ Murderer ! miserable murderer ! ” 
said Florian Geyer — for he it was — in a 
suppressed voice, to the now affrighted 
leader of the peasants, “you have dipped 
your guilty hands in blood, and have per- 
petrated a shameful crime, which must of 
necessity bring upon the head of every 
one of us the indignation of God and of 
man. Murderer, I repeat, who authorized 
you to murder these our prisoners ? ” 

Meanwhile Jacklein had recovered 
his self-possession, and as he saw that 
the peasants regarded the knight with 
looks of hostility, he resumed his wonted 
impudence, and replied : 


jAcklein’s revenge. 


I2I 


“ And who has authorized you to cen- 
sure and insult me, and to call me to 
account ? What I have done I am au- 
thorized to do by virtue of my office as 
commander-in-chief of the peasants, and 
I am responsible to no higher authority 
than that of a council of war, and to 
this I submit only if I please ; for my 
influence and power is greater than that 
of all the other officers together. Is ’t 
not so, my trusty followers, you who 
stick to me ? Have I not spoken well, 
and as you think ? ” 

A loud assent, mingled with threat- 
ening murmurs, in answer to the appeal, 
was shouted by the peasants, and the 
muzzles of several arquebuses were 
aimed at the haughty knight. 

“ Mistaken men, I pity you more than 


122 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


I despise you,” returned Florian Geyer, 
with elevated voice, to the crowd. 
“You are betrayed by this villain Jack- 
lein Rohrbach and his accomplices. But 
you, Jacklein, I loathe; and pray that 
God may judge you for this bloody 
crime according to His righteousness. 
Henceforth I will cease to have any in- 
tercourse with you and your pack of 
howling wolves. I will no longer be a 
companion of hangmen and murderers. 
But let me assure you, that this blood 
so shamefully spilled will cry to Heaven 
for vengeance, and by this blood the 
good cause of freeing the downtrodden 
people will be totally ruined. You are 
a murderer in a twofold sense : the 
murderer of these unfortunate men, and 
the murderer of German liberty. I, 


jAcklein’s revenge. 


123 


therefore, curse you, as must every no- 
ble heart and every honest soul.” 

After uttering these earnest words, 
he turned his horse’s head and slowly 
left the scene of blood. No one ven- 
tured to cast a word of reproach after 
him. The peasants gazed after him with 
perplexed countenances, and even Jack- 
lein and the dark Hofmannin were stung 
with a dim sense of remorse. Their 
consciences, doubtless, warned them that 
the curse of the good knight Florian 
would be accomplished, and this appre- 
hension filled their souls with a fearful 
trembling in advance of the righteous 
retribution already near at hand and 
terrible in its character. 



CHAPTER V. 

RESCUE OFEGBERT. 

LORIAN was greatly distressed at 



the inhuman conduct of Jacklein. 
He apprehended the disastrous results, 
and these filled him with the deepest 
concern for the fate of the poor, un- 
happy people, to whose welfare he had 
devoted his life, and for whom he had 
made the greatest sacrifices. Could he 
pursue the same road with such per- 
sons ? Impossible ! His feelings as a 
knight revolted against such a course. 
But could he, dared he forsake the 


124 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. 125 

cause for which he was contending? 
Never ! 

Of all prejudices of rank he had en- 
tirely divested himself; a knight, he 
had voluntarily descended to a common 
level with the people ; in order to re- 
main an honest man, he must suffer 
with his fellows. 

“With the people I will remain, but 
not with their leaders, who are traitors 
to the public good,” he muttered, as he 
slowly rode on his way. “Whatever 
fate may be assigned to me, I contend 
for a good cause, and God will not for- 
sake me.” 

On the same day he announced to 
his faithful retainers, that he would sep- 
arate from all connection with Jacklein’s 
rabble herd. When he made known to 


II 


126 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


them the ground of this determination, 
a loud assent was uttered by his brave 
followers, and every one approved the 
words and deeds of their chivalrous 
leader. 

Metzler himself, and the other leaders 
of the peasants, were moved to intense 
anger against Jacklein, and condemned, 
in earnest terms, his violent and shame- 
ful conduct. Jacklein was thus com- 
pelled in a few days, with his disorderly 
herd of followers, to separate from the 
other insurgents, and thenceforth to 
pursue his own independent course. 

Meanwhile, our good knight remem- 
bered a duty, which the excitements of 
the day had deferred, and which he 
owed to the unfortunate Countess of 
Helfenstein, whom he had taken under 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. 


127 


his charge and protection. Immediate 
orders had been given, that she with 
her infant son and nurse should be es- 
corted to Heilbronn, and thither he 
resolved to follow her with his entire 
command. For although Heilbronn 
had not yet in a formal manner united 
with the peasant league, yet it was well 
known, that its citizens wished to make 
common cause with it, and thus with- 
draw from the oppressive rule of the 
German order of knights, who possessed 
immense wealth and property, and who 
had often conducted themselves with 
brutal severity toward the citizens. It 
was doubtless the case, that Jacklein 
had delivered her over to the charge of 
the most discontented of the citizens ; 
and to rescue her from their hands, was 


128 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


the pressing duty of Florian as a true 
knight. 

This obligation he resolved to dis- 
charge without delay. On the selfsame 
day he communicated his purpose to 
George Metzler, and then summoned 
his soldiery to hold themselves ready to 
march at the early dawn of the follow- 
ing morning. 

But in the evening an event of pecu- 
liar importance occurred to him. A 
messenger arrived, post-haste, in his 
camp, and expressed a desire to speak 
with him on the instant. The guard 
conducted him forthwith to Florian’s 
tent. 

“ Who are you ? And what is your 
wish ? ” asked Florian of a plain and 
modest man in peasant garb. 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. 


129 


“ Sir,” was the answer, “ I am one of 
the followers of the noble young Egbert 
of Hoheneck.” 

“ Of Egbert of Hoheneck ? ” con- 
tinued Florian. “ Where is he ? Why 
did he not return to me ? ” 

Because he could not, gracious sir,” 
replied the stranger, and then drew 
from his vest-pocket a letter, which he 
handed to the knight. “ After you have 
read this, you will know what has hap- 
pened to the noble youth, and why he 
has not let himself be heard of sooner. 
He lies imprisoned in a well guarded 
dungeon of the castle of Hoheneck.” 

“ Imprisoned ? ” echoed Florian, with 
alarm. “ He sent me word that his 
brother Rolf had received and enter- 
tained him kindly.” 

I 


130 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


So he did, for appearance sake, and 
for the purpose of securing his brother 
as his prisoner, and of thus keeping him 
in his power,” answered the peasant. 
“ By granting his wishes he succeeded 
in retaining him in the castle of Hohen- 
eck from day to day, but accomplished 
also, by various pretexts, the dismissal 
of all his faithful Seltenberg servants 
from his presence ; and then, when he 
believed that he had nothing more to 
fear, cast him into the dungeon, where 
he now debars him from all communica- 
tion with others. But the friends of 
young Egbert, who knew more fully the 
designs of Rolf than his too confiding 
brother, found out the treacherous 
course pursued, and sought to place 
themselves in communication with him. 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. I3I 

This succeeded only after the lapse of 
some weeks ; for Rolf had selected his 
creatures with care, and placed none in 
charge of young Egbert but those upon 
whom he could rely with certainty. 
Through them there could be no access 
gained to the prisoner ; but one of the 
kitchen servants was won over by 
weighty promises, and he agreed to 
convey a message to young Egbert, 
that his faithful followers held constant 
watch, and awaited his orders to inter- 
fere heart and soul in his behalf in any 
manner that he should dictate. This 
message was written on a slip of parch- 
ment and placed in a hollow piece of 
bread, which the servant promised to 
send to him. In the same manner they 
also succeeded in getting an answer in 


132 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


return. It contained the request that 
the noble knight Florian Geyer might 
be found, and the enclosed writing be 
handed to him. This duty was en- 
trusted to me, and I thank God that I 
was enabled, noble sir, to meet with you.” 

Meanwhile Florian had opened and 
read the billet. It contained only the 
following words, written in blood, and 
almost illegible : 

“ To the rescue, my protector ! Rolf 
holds me a prisoner, and is bent on my 
destruction ! ” 

“ I will come with the speed of light- 
ning, and will be quits with this unnat- 
ural brother,” murmured Florian, while, 
in bitter grief, he tore in pieces the writ- 
ing of Egbert. Then turning to the 
peasant, he said : 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. I33 

“Remain for the present in my camp. 
Help shall be rendered to this youth. 
Do you know the shortest road to Ho- 
heneck ? ” 

“ Every foot of it is well known to 
me,” answered the peasant. 

“’Tis well ; you will then serve as our 
guide,” replied Florian. “ For the pres- 
ent go and refresh yourself with needful 
food. My people will leave you want 
for nothing.” 

The peasant withdrew. The per- 
turbed knight devoted himself for a few 
moments to anxious thought, and then 
said, “ First the most pressing duty ! I 
hope, notwithstanding, to reach you, 
Egbert, in good season ! ” and then cast 
himself on his hard couch to enjoy a 
few hours of sorely needed sleep. 


12 


134 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


Before the sun had risen on the fol- 
lowing morning, the notes of active 
preparation could be heard in Florian’s 
little army. Each man took his place 
in rank and file. When Florian ap- 
peared to put himself at the head of his 
followers, he was received with loud ac- 
clamations ; and immediately afterwards 
the force took its march toward Heil- 
bronn. The troops under command of 
Metzler were directed to follow one 
hour later. 

Without opposition, the citizens of 
Heilbronn opened their gates to the ap- 
proaching army, and it was not difficult 
for Florian to discover the stopping- 
place of the Countess of Helfenstein, 
for her arrival there had excited much 
attention. She cheerfully placed her- 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. 


135 


self once more under the protection of 
the nobleman, and thanked him, with 
tears, for his kindly concern for her. 
Florian gently declined any claims upon 
her gratitude. 

“Let us rather think of the future, 
noble lady,” said he. “ Have you set- 
tled on any plan in regard to where and 
how you will find a safe asylum ? Here 
in Heilbronn, which has fallen into the 
hands of the peasants, you cannot long 
remain. Your enemies, and especially 
the cruel Jacklein, will not hesitate to 
persecute you anew, and to offer every 
inducement to the citizens to get you 
again into his power, were it only for 
the purpose of demanding a heavy ran- 
som.” 

“ But what have I to fear while under 


136 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

your protection, sir knight?'' said the 
anxious Countess. 

“ Nothing, as long as I am here," re- 
plied the knight. “ But a sacred duty 
calls me hence. A young friend, of 
mine is imprisoned, and threatened 
with death, and I must hasten to yield 
him assistance and deliverance." 

“You must depart hence. Be it so; 
but let me accompany you," said the 
Countess, , sadly. “My presence shall 
not long burden you. I propose going 
to my brother, George of Austria, the 
bishop-prince of Luttich, and am con- 
fident of finding a safe and suitable 
asylum with him. Only do not forsake 
me, as long as there may be any danger 
of my falling again into the hands of 
the peasants." 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. 


137 


“ I will certainly not forsake you, 
noble lady,” replied Florian. ‘‘It would 
perhaps be safest for you to follow in 
my march, for I doubt not but that you 
will find a safe retreat, either at the 
castle of Hoheneck, or in the fortress 
of Seltenberg, until you can, without 
danger, proceed to Brussels.” 

“ In Hoheneck ? or Seltenberg ? ” 
asked the Countess, with alarm. “Are 
these the places to which you are 
marching ? ” 

Florian gave an affirmative reply to 
this, and explained, briefly, the circum- 
stances which rendered a speedy and 
secret march to those places necessary. 
The, Countess listened to him with evi- 
dent surprise. 

“Truly,” said she, “what a hateful 


138 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

wretch this Rolf is ! Egbert’s mother 
was one of my dearest friends, and I 
know positively that her inheritance, 
namely, the fortress of Seltenberg, was 
willed to her son as his property. You 
will do indeed a good work, if you suc- 
ceed in restoring to young Egbert his 
just rights.” 

“ That will I do, as truly as I rely on 
the help of God,” replied Florian. 
“ And I doubt not in the least my suc- 
cess. I am too strong with my noble 
band, for Rolf to offer me any show of 
resistance. Egbert will receive you 
with redoubled pleasure, when he learns 
that you were a friend of his deceased 
mother, and that you are able to furnish 
testimony in support of his claims. 
Under his protection you will be per- 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. 


139 


fectly safe. And now, ho for Hohen- 
eck ! 

The march was prosecuted on the fol- 
lowing morning, after Florian had sent 
a message to Metzler, informing him 
that he would unite his faithful guard 
again with the main force of the army 
at Wurzburg. In the meantime the 
loyal knight placed the Countess on 
the back of a trusty mule, which he 
had sought out for the special use of his 
valued guest. Her wounded infant son 
and nurse were conveyed p a litter. 
The lady’s-maid rode at the side of her 
noble mistress. 

The peasant, who had carried Egbert’s' 
letter, led him by the nearest and most 
secret path towards the place of desti- 
nation, and on the evening of the sec- 


140 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


ond day after the-departure from Heil- 
bronn, the lofty battlements of the 
castle of Hoheneck were seen at a short 
distance, towering high into the air. 

“ That is Hoheneck,” said the peasant 
to Florian, as he pointed towards the 
castle, now gilded by the rays of the 
setting sun ; “ it is a strong fortress, my 
noble sir.” 

“ And were it ten times as strong, we 
would take it by storm,” replied Florian, 
with a grim smile. “ A friend of mine 
shall never invoke aid from me in vain. 
But before we enter on the undertaking, 
we must await the approach of night, 
and until then keep ourselves con- 
cealed. The surrounding forest will 
afford us a good opportunity for this 
purpose.” 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. I4I 

“ I trust that I can be of still further 
use to you, noble sir,” said the peasant, 
in a subdued voice ; “ for I know the 
place in and out, where the walls are 
most easily scaled, and where least 
guarded.” 

“ If the blood of my brave troops can 
be spared, so much the better,” replied 
Florian. 

Upon this he turned to his men and 
gave them command to conceal them- 
selves and keep as quiet as possible. 
These experienced warriors cheerfully 
complied ; for they knew the importance 
of a surprise, which could not be accom- 
plished without the utmost caution. 

Like dim spectres, therefore, they 
dispersed in the depths of the forest, 
which resumed its quiet aspect, as 


142 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


though its secluded haunts concealed 
no other than its accustomed inmates. 

The sun went down in the western 
horizon, and deeper became the shades 
of night. All remained quiet in the 
forest until the position of the stars de- 
noted the hour of midnight. The orders 
of Florian were then issued in low tones, 
and a rustling among the leaves of the 
forest was heard like that of a sudden 
gust of wind. The men-at-arms ad- 
vanced and crowded around their leader. 

“It is time,” said he, “that we now 
move forward. You, noble Countess,” 
turning to the Lady Helfenstein, “ re- 
main here meanwhile under safe con- 
cealment. Before the morning dawns, I 
hope to send you good tidings. Be 
content, I pray you, till then.” 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. 


143 


The Countess promised to wait pa- 
tiently, and Florian, with the peasant at 
his side, mounted and placed himself at 
the head of his eager troops. The 
night was dark, and the stars, although 
the sky was clear, imparted but little 
light ; but the peasant, who knew every 
foot of the ground, guided Florian in 
perfect safety to the point of attack. It 
was not long after midnight when the 
little army reached the base of the hill, 
which was not very high, though quite 
steep, and on the summit of which stood 
the castle. 

“This is the very steepest place of 
ascent,” whispered the peasant to the 
knight ; “ but at the same time it is by 
far the safest, because at the top of it 
no watch is kept, it being considered so 


144 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


secure from attack. After we have 
climbed up here, we can easily enter 
the castle garden, and thence the castle, 
for the garden-gate is but seldom locked, 
and often stands open day and night.” 

‘‘It is well,” replied Florian. “We 
will direct our assault here, but also at 
the same time on the other sides. We 
will then be the more certain of the re- 
sult, and no one in the castle can escape 
us.” 

He therefore divided his force into 
three parts, placed himself at the head 
of the one, and entrusted the other two 

V 

to the care of trustworthy leaders. 

“You will now proceed as far as you 
handily can, avoiding being observed, 
and without noise,” said he. “You will 
then come to a halt and await further 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. 


145 


orders. If any one attempts to escape 
from the castle, you will take him pris- 
oner, but do him no harm. And now, 
my men, quietly and cautiously; for- 
ward ! ” 

The two detachments moved off to 
the right and to the left. Florian, at the 
head of his party, took the lead in scal- 
ing the steep height, the peasant still at 
his side, the soldiers following : no man 
hung back. 

It was soon evident that the scaling 
of the hill at this point, especially in the 
darkness, was no easy task and not 
without danger. But the brave and ac- 
tive soldiers aided each other, and their 
perseverance finally conquered every 
difficulty. Florian was the first to reach 

the summit, and extended a helping 
13 K 


146 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

hand to those who followed. Before a 
half-hour had expired, all were standing 
on the top of the cliff, fatigued, it is true, 
with the severe effort, but with unabated 
courage, and proud of the success which 
had crowned their efforts. 

Florian looked carefully toward the 
castle, but heard no sound from there, 
not even the step of a sentinel. Every- 
thing lay, apparently, in profound 
slumber. 

In front of the attacking party stood 
a wall about ten feet in height, which 
must of necessity be scaled, in order to 
effect an entrance into the garden. For 
the venturesome troops, this was but a 
trifle. They climbed upon each other’s 
shoulders, and thence over the wall. 
In less than fifteen minutes all were over. 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. 


147 


As yet, not a sound was heard in the 
castle. It was only after Florian had 
placed his men in order, and led them 
through the open gate into the castle- 
yard, that a brace of huge mastiffs, by 
their loud barking, raised an alarm, and 
immediately afterwards the challenge, 
“ Who ’s there ? ” was uttered in a loud 
voice, by a sentinel. 

Halt ! ” commanded Florian, in a 
low tone. And the whole company 
stood as though carved in stone. The 
ferocious beasts redoubled their bark- 
ing, and the steps of the patrol drew 
momentarily nearer. 

“ Who ’s there ? ” cried the sentinel, 
for the second time. “ What brings 
you here ? Seize him, Packan ! Seize 
him, Dohna ! ” 


148 • KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

At the same moment he loosened the 
dogs, whom thus far he had held by a 
leash, and encouraged the fierce beasts 
to an attack on the approaching party. 
Florian uplifted his drawn sword, to cut 
them down as soon as they should ap- 
proach sufficiently near ; but the peas- 
ant anticipated his movement. 

“ Let this be my work, noble sir ! 
said he, quickly. “ The dying howls of 
the beasts might betray us, before we 
are ready. I will soon rnake peace 
with them.” 

Stepping speedily a few steps for- 
ward, he threw them a few pieces of 
meat, with which he had provided him- 
self for this purpose. 

“ Silence, Dohna ! Be quiet, Packan ! ” 
cried he, at the same moment. 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. 


149 


The dogs recognized his voice, for 
immediately they became quiet, and 
commenced devouring the inviting pieces 
of meat. Meanwhile, the guard drew 
near, cursing the beasts for their ineffi- 
ciency and their unwonted disobedience 
to his commands. 

“ Do but be easy, old Eckard,” cried 
the peasant to him. “ Do you not 
know Martin Redinger? ’Tis true it 
is dark — 

“ So then it was you that raised this 
noise with the dogs ? ” replied their 
keeper, in a surly voice. “ How in the 
hangman’s name came you here, and 
for what purpose ? ” 

“That I am about to tell you, Eckard,” 
replied Martin, as he stepped closely 
forward to the unwary sentinel — “I 


13 


150 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

came over the garden wall in order to 
liberate young Egbert. Now you know 
all ! ” 

“ Treachery ! ” shouted the fellow, a 
faithful adherent of Rolf, and full as 
churlish and cunning as he. “ Treach- 
ery ! Up ! up ! To arms ! ” 

Scarcely had he uttered these words, 
when he was seized by Martin, and at 
the same instant three or four soldiers 
fell upon him, threw him to the ground, 
and covered his mouth with a cloth. 
The two dogs did not interfere, nor did 
they prevent their keeper from being 
bound hand and foot, but continued to 
regale themselves with the food so op- 
portunely thrown to them. 

The barking of the dogs, and the cries 
of the warder, had, meanwhile, awakened 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. I5I 

some of the sleepers, and now there 
was a decided commotion in the interior 
of the castle. The fitful gleam of torches, 
borne hurriedly to and fro, shone from 
the narrow openings in the wall, for the 
call of the watchman, to arms, had not 
been misunderstood. Florian on the 
instant developed his plan ; he dis- 
patched part of his force to throw wide 
open the castle - gate and lower the 
draw-bridge, and then placed himself at 
the head of the rest, in order to make 
a sudden attack on the main building. 
The hall-door was shattered in a mo- 
ment, and every avenue and corridor 
seized. 

Here but little resistance was made. 
The most of the opponents, after a 
short resistance, threw down their arms, 


152 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


and the remainder were, without much 
effort, made prisoners. Florian was 
now considered master of the place, 
and arrangements were already made 
to break open the prison in which 
Egbert was confined, when the sound 
of conflict was again heard in the rear 
of the main corridor. It was Rolf him- 
self, who had gathered together the 
remnant of his forces, and by a violent 
onset sought to drive back his assail- 
ants. He encouraged his followers 
with loud appeals to their loyalty, and 
for a brief time actually succeeded in 
forcing back the followers of Florian. 
But Florian himself hastened to the 
rescue, and in the melee his sword 
crossed that of the unnatural brother. 

“Hold!” cried he to his foe. “We 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. 


153 


seek neither your life nor that of your 
adherents. It is only justice that we 
ask, and the release of Egbert, whom 
you have cruelly cast into prison.” 

“There, you have what justice de- 
mands ! ” replied the infuriate Rolf, as 
he aimed a violent blow at Florian, but 
which the latter skilfully parried. 

“Surrender! surrender!” cried he to 
Rolf. “ My strength greatly exceeds 
yours, and by further resistance you 
can gain nothing save wounds and 
death ! ” 

Rolf heard not, or would not hear. 
With blind fury he aimed his blows at 
Florian, and his sturdy followers pressed 
forward at his side. A fearful hand-to- 
hand conflict ensued, the result of which, 
with Florian’s superior force, could not 


154 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


long remain doubtful. The sound of 
swords and halberds falling on helmet 
and breast-plate mingled with the fre- 
quent reports of discharged arquebuses. 
To and fro swayed the contending 
forces amid the darkness, relieved only 
by the uncertain flash of the torches. 
Florian, in the personal conflict forced 
upon him by the fiery Rolf, spared his 
opponent’s life again and again, and 
parried off from him even the lances of 
his followers ; for he wished not the 
death of the brother of his friend Eg- 
bert, but rather that he might live to 
become a better man. And now a shot 
was heard from the rear of the corridor, 
and Rolf sunk to the pavement wounded 
by a bullet. A random shot had wounded 
him severely, if not fatally. 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. 


155 


All resistance thenceforth ceased. 
The fall of their leader disheartened 
the adherents of Rolf so much that they 
gave over resistance. They threw down 
their arms, as their comrades had pre- 
viously done, and asked for mercy, 
which Florian immediately granted. 
He thereupon commanded the body of 
Rolf to be taken up and carried into 
the best chamber. Rolf’s followers 
lifted him up carefully^ and in a few 
moments the wounded knight was lying 
upon his dying-bed. A small stream 
of blood flowed from beneath his cuirass. 
Florian himself, with the utmost tender- 
ness, relieved him of his coat of mail, 
and found that the bullet had pierced 
his corselet and entered the breast in 
close proximity to the heart. Death 


156 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


had already placed his seal upon Rolfs 
pale forehead. Florian saw that there 
was no hope of saving the life of the 
wounded man, but he nevertheless en- 
deavored to staunch the flow of blood 
by means of a fitting bandage. Amid 
these efforts the wounded man recovered 
from the swoon into which he had fallen, 
opened his eyes, and for a few moments 
was restored to consciousness. 

“ Cease, cease ! ” he said, with feeble 
voice, to Florian. “ For me there is no 
further help. The avenging hand of 
God has overtaken me ! I have well 
deserved all that has befallen me ! Oh, 
Egbert! Egbert! can you forgive me 
for the unnatural cruelty I have so wick- 
edly inflicted on you ? ” 

“ Where is Egbert ? ” asked Florian, 


RESCUE OF, EGBERT. 


157 


moved by the ghastly appearance and 
the evident penitence of the dying man. 
“ I doubt not but that he will willingly 
pardon, and even forget, the injuries 
you have done him.” 

“ In the dungeon ! Kurtz has the 
key!” moaned Rolf, in an almost inau- 
dible voice, and turning with excruciat- 
ing pain, added, “Could I see him only 
once more — I think I would die more 
peacefully.” 

“You shall see him,” replied Florian. 
“ Where is the man who is called 
Kurtz?” 

“ He is here 1 ” responded a voice, 
while two persons stepped forward. 
“ And here also is young Egbert, whom 
I have just now brought hither from 

the dungeon.” 

14 


158 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

Egbert stepped hurriedly to the bed- 
side of his brother, who looked implor- 
ingly on him with his dim, expiring eyes. 

“ Pardon ! ” said Rolf, in a faltering 
voice. “ I have wronged you sorely, 
but in my dying moments I repent bit- 
terly." 

“ I pardon you, my brother, and for- 
give you with my whole heart," was the 
earnest reply of Egbert as he seized 
the hand of the dying man. “ Alas ! 
that I should see you again only to stand 
by your bed of death ! Oh, Florian, 
could you not have spared his life ? He 
was, in spite of his misdeeds, my bro- 
ther ! " 

“Not he, not he the cause of my 
death," said Rolf, hastily, but in a rap- 
idly sinking voice. “I myself — God 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. 


159 


has punished rAe — may he, for Christ’s 
sake, have mercy on my guilty soul ! ” 

A deep groan forced its labored way 
from his tortured breast, a slight con- 
vulsion shook his frame ; then stretching 
himself to his full length, he breathed 
his last breath. 

Egbert gazed mournfully on the dead 
body. It is true, he could not love his 
brother, as he had never received any- 
thing but ill treatment from him ; but in 
his heart he lamented his sudden and 
violent death, and would gladly have re- 
called him to life had he possessed the 
power. 

Florian then laid his hand on the 
shoulder of Egbert, and said, “ He has 
departed with your pardon and forgive- 
ness ; this should be your comfort and 


i6o 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


consolation. He himself sought death, 
and thereby paid the bitter penalty for 
his misdeeds. Let us hope that God 
will pardon him as you have done. Let 
the dead rest. The living ones now 
claim our aid. Accompany me ! 

He led him without resistance away 
from the chamber of death, and related 
to him, in. hurried words, the sad mis- 
fortune that had befallen the Countess 
Helfenstein, and that he had assured 
her that his friend Egbert would give 
her an asylum. Egbert of course as- 
sented to this, and hastened with Flo- 
rian to the forest to greet the Countess, 
and conduct her to the castle. The 
Countess gladly accepted the earnest 
invitation, and was soon comfortably 
quartered in the castle. 


RESCUE OF EGBERT. l6l 

Florian, Egbert, and the soldiers now 
sought and enjoyed the repose they so 
much needed, and the returning dawn 
of day found the occupants of the cas- 
tle sunk in peaceful slumber. 

14* L 




CHAPTER VI. 

THE TURNING-POINT— ALL LOST SAVE 
HONOR. 


FTER the burial of Rolf, Egbert 



expressed to Florian his purpose 
of uniting a picked band of his best 
armed retainers with the soldiers of the 
knight, and insisted on this resolve 
against the earnest counsel of the true- 
hearted Florian. 

They broke up camp, therefore, after 
Egbert had made suitable arrangements 
for the safety of the Countess, and, with 
their united forces, took their departure 
for Wurzburg, there to join their little 


THE TURNING-POINT. 163 

army with the peasant force under the 
command of Metzler. 

The city of Wurzburg was already 
in possession of the peasants, but the 
fortress was, as yet, held by the forces 
of the bishop, and was defended by 
them with skill and courage. Frequent 
attempts to take it by storm had proved 
fruitless, and were attended with great 
loss to the assailants ; and the utmost 
that could be done was to lay close siege 
to the stronghold, in hopes that its de- 
fenders might be starved into submis- 
sion. This would, doubtless, have been 
triumphantly accomplished, had not 
other and unexpected events occurred, 
which gave to the war an entirely new 
aspect. 

Thus far the peasants had been gen- 


164 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

erally successful. They had captured 
numerous castles in Franconia and 
Suabia ; had plundered and destroyed a 
number of monasteries and cloisters ; 
had laid under contribution numerous 
cities which thus purchased exemption 
from conflagration ; and in the open 
field had defeated every army that had 
met them in conflict. But now there 
came a turning-point, which Florian 
Geyer had looked for with far-seeing 
though well-founded anticipation. The 
cruel and bloody murders practised at 
Heilbronn by Jacklein were about to 
produce their disastrous fruits. The 
princes and nobles of the land, seized 
with unutterable horror at these savage 
acts, would hearken no longer to pro- 
positions of equalizing property, and of 


THE TURNING-POINT. 165 

conciliating* the army of the peasants, to 
which, in a great measure, before the 
commission of such outrages, they were 
well inclined. Now arose no longer the 
cry of Peace, but that of revenge at 
any price. From castle to castle, from 
fortress to fortress, from city to city, re- 
sounded the cry for vengeance. Prelates, 
knights, and noblernen donned their ar- 
mor, and at the head of their forces, in 
fortresses and in the field, united under 
the leadership of Truchsess von Wald- 
burg, who, with an army hastily gathered 
together, moved with courage, confident 
of victory, against the peasants. The 
first efforts of Truchsess were followed 
by success ; and the results of these 
were of the more importance to him, as 
shortly afterwards the peasants became 


i66 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


much divided in sentiment among them- 
selves ; and Luther himself, the great 
trumpeter of freedom, shocked at their 
cruel lawlessness, had declared himself 
opposed to the insurrection, and called 
on princes and nobles to oppose and 
suppress it with all the means in their 
power. Besides this, the peasants had 
chosen as their commander-in-chief, the 
knight Goetz von Berlichingen, who was 
not sincejre with them, having already 
concocted with Truchsess von Waldburg 
a treacherous plan for their betrayal, 
while, almost in the same breath, he 
had sacredly promised to remain with 
the peasants to the last. And as if 
this were not sufficient, he — impelled 
either by envy, or some other base mo- 
tive — succeeded in the council held at 


THE TURNING-POINT. 


167 


Wurzburg, to have it decreed, that 
Florian Geyer, the only faithful and 
truly competent commander of the 
peasants, should be separated for weeks 
from his faithful band of followers, in 
negotiating terms and treaties at Heil- 
bronn and other remote places, the ne- 
gotiation of which would have been 
much more suitably entrusted to Chan- 
cellor Wendel Hippier, or some other 
person more familiar with the pen than 
with the sword. 

It is true, the good knight Florian 
hastened to place himself at the head 
of his faithful followers, but only after 
disastrous news were rapidly brought 
from every quarter. But it was then 
too late to prevent, or even to delay 
misfortune. News came of the defeat 


i68 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


of the peasants at Boeblingen, where 
four thousand of their number shed 
their blood and forfeited their lives in 
conflict with the force of Truchsess von 
Waldburg; and that Jacklein Rohrbach, 
in the neighborhood of Upper Asberg, 
had fallen into the hands of Truchsess ; 
likewise of the total dispersion of the 
peasant army of Wittenberg ; and to 
crown these disasters, came a full confir- 
mation of the fearful cruelties which the 
nobility and knights had inflicted on the 
scattered forces of the peasantry. This 
was disheartening to the survivors ; and 
when Goetz von Berlichingen, the com- 
mander-in-chief, deserted his army in 
the vicinity, of Adolzfurth, accompanied 
by ten others, thousands threw down 
their weapons, and only a small number 


THE TURNING-POINT. 169 

remained steadfast under the command 
of George Metzler. And even this 
body was partly scattered, and many of 
them slaughtered, after a fierce contest 
at the battle of Konigshofen, — Metzler 
himself having succeeded only by a 
fortunate retreat in escaping the ven- 
geance of Truchsess, which would nat- 
urally be most severe upon the leaders 
of the rebellion. 

Under these adverse circumstances, 
Florian, on a set day, assembled his 
officers in council, to learn their opin- 
ions upon the course most proper to 
pursue. But none of them ventured to 
give advice ; they were silent, and with 
dejected countenances could utter but 
little more than complaints. Florian 

then addressed them in these words : 

15 


I/O KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

“ Our cause is lost, and we with it. 
The only question left to us is, shall 
we throw down our arms, and trust to 
the cruel caprice and tyranny of our 
enemies ? Or shall we fight like men, 
and, like heroes, shed the last drop of our 
blood on the field of battle ? On the 
one hand, there is death, with shame and 
disgrace ; on the other, a true, knightly 
death, in honor and good faith, for a 
righteous cause ! Make your choice ! 

“There is, in this case, no choice,” 
said an aged captain, with ardent re- 
solve. “Lead us. Sir Florian, we will 
follow you even to the last man.” 

“ So let it be ! ” exclaimed the others, 
with one accord; and the council of war 
was ended. 

Shortly after Whitsuntide, the stout- 


THE TURNING-POINT. I7I 

hearted band of Florian met the army 
of Truchsess von Waldburg, near the vil- 
lage of Sulzdorf. The rabble of the 
peasantry, which had thus far followed 
the banner of Florian, was soon dis- 
persed and put to flight, by the well- 
disciplined troops of the allied princes. 
But Florian’s followers knew naught of 
retreat. Their number had been re- 
duced to six hundred men. They re- 
sisted bravely as long as they could 
endure it; and only after being ex- 
hausted, they retired in good order, 
with serried files, to the village and 
castle of Ingolstadt. Again and again 
rushed the enemy’s cavalry on this de- 
voted band, and as frequently were 
they repelled by the musketeers and 
lancers of Florian, who finally chose a 


172 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


safe position, sheltered by a dense 
grove, near the village of Ingolstadt. 
Here an attack was made on their posi- 
tion, by twelve hundred cavalry and 
men-at-arms, led on by Count Louis 
of Bavaria in person. Pressed by this 
overwhelming number, two hundred of 
Florian’s brave companions took posi- 
tion in the church, the tower, and the 
cemetery of the village ; the remainder, 
between three and four hundred, took 
possession of the castle. Those in the 
cemetery, after a resistance which ap- 
peared to be of doubtful result, sought 
refuge in the church. From tower and 
roof were now heard shouts of combat- 
ants and the clash of arms, and the 
report of muskets. Those who had 
exhausted their supply of powder, tore 


f THE TURNING-POINT. I73 

the tiles from the roof, and the stones 
from the walls, and hurled them down 
upon the heads of the assailants, many 
of whom were thus severely wounded, 
whilst the remainder were discouraged 
from pressing the attack. The Count 
then issued orders that fire - brands 
should be thrown into the church. This 
was done, and in a short time church 
and tower were involved in a violent 
conflagration ; but from the midst of 
the roaring flames, the indomitable 
troops discharged bullets, and cast 
down stones upon the heads of their 
opponents, by which many of the latter 
were slain ; and Florian’s stout follow- 
ers ceased to defend themselves only 
when they had yielded their last 
breath. None of this brave band sur- 


15 


1/4 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. • 


vived; none sought safety in flight; 
none asked for quarter ; they died, 
every doomed man. 

And now came the fate of Florian 
and his few associates, who had gained 
possession of the castle of Ingolstadt. 
This was already in a partly ruined 
condition ; but it had high and massive 
walls, a large and strong tower, and 
was encircled by a deep ditch. Florian 
had the gaps of the walls repaired, and 
the approaches speedily secured ; and 
when the enemy approached, he spoke 
cheerfully : 

“ Be not dismayed, my men, by their 
great number, but shoot rapidly, and 
defend yourselves bravely, for we 
neither ask nor expect mercy ! ” 

A cheerful huzza from the men 


THE TURNING-POINT. 


175 


showed full well that their courage had 
not abated. Only three among this 
devoted band manifested cowardice. 
These sneaked away to seek for mercy, 
but were at once butchered by the 
spearmen of the Count. Those who 
remained steadfast were now more 
fully than *ever convinced that there 
was no hope of mercy. Their eyes 
sparkled all the more fiercely with 
determined resistance. 

The Count, with almost the entire 
force of the confederates, now massed 
his forces for a desperate assault on the 
castle, and directed on it all his guns, 
both great and small. In a short time, 
a portion of the wall, about a score of 
feet in width, fell outward upon the 
ditch, and thus formed a bridge into the 


176 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

breach. The confederates hailed this 
sight with loud applause, the foot-sol- 
diers immediately rushing to the charge. 
In this attack they were joined by many 
noblemen and knights, who dismounted 
from their steeds. These scrambled 
pell-mell over the debris that filled the 
ditch, expecting that the defenders of 
the castle, disheartened by the over- 
whelming number of their assailants, 
would make little or no resistance 
But they understood not the prowess 
of Florian and his manful band, who 
stood at the breach, resolved to meet 
this dark hour, irrespective of their fate, 
and regardless and fearless of their foes. 
Among the foremost of them could be 
seen the noble form of our doughty 
knight, and close by his . side fought the 
youthful Egbert. 










THE TURNING-POINT. 


177 


As the storming party rushed on- 
ward, they were received with an unex- 
pected shower of bullets and stones, 
which made them falter. At the same 
moment Florian, in a voice of thunder, 
cried out to his men, “ Forward ! ” and 
his foot-soldiers flew at the enemy with 
such force and vigor, as to compel the 
beleaguerers to make a hasty and 
tumultuous retreat beyond the ditch, 
leaving nearly a hundred of their num- 
ber dead and wounded, of whom many 
were men of rank. 

The ineffectual attack was bitterly 
rued by the confederates, who declined 
to renew the assault; and the Count 
Palatine, with ill dissembled mortifica- 
tion, contented himself with furiously 
renewing the cannonade, in hopes of 


i;8 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


enlarging the breach which had already 
been made. 

Meanwhile, the besieged were not 
idle. Some annoyed the enemy at a 
distance with their muskets ; and others 
carried stones to repair the breach in 
the wall, and to erect breastworks. 

The muskets made such havoc that 
the enemy were compelled to renew 
the assault, before they had lost too 
many of their number. Again they 
rushed to the attack, accompanied by 
many of their most distinguished chiefs 
and nobles. They entered the breach, 
congratulating themselves that they had 
now overcome the most serious obsta- 
cle. Not a shot was now heard from 
within, for the besieged had by this 
time expended nearly all their ammuni- 


THE TURNING-POINT. I79 

tion, and the storming party rushed 
forward in triumph. 

But at that moment the contest be- 
gan to rage anew in its greatest fury ; 
for, lo ! inside of the partly demolished 
wall, there was now another wall, en- 
closing the court of the castle, about 
the height of a spear’s length, and 
behind this the brave defenders had 
ranged themselves. A narrow door 
and windows in the wall ‘ enabled the 
stubborn defenders here to attack their 
rash assailants with spear-thrusts, and 
with well-aimed volleys of musket-balls, 
while from the top of the wall, some 
hurled stones on the heads of their 
enemies. The storming party, finding 
their position here untenable, were 
again compelled to retreat, lest they 


i8o 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


should all be sacrificed. Many of their 
number were already stretched on the 
piles of ruins, and only a handful of the 
bravest refused to retreat, but crept 
close to the wall, where the besieged 
pierced them through and through with 
their long spears. 

Again the confederates brought for- 
ward their cannon, to terminate the 
conflict. These they directed through 
the breach upon the inner wall, which 
they partly demolished. The besieged 
could do nothing to prevent them, for 
they had now expended the last of their 
powder. 

And now the confederates, for the 
third time, renewed the onslaught with 
irresistible fury. After a severe hand- 
to-hand conflict, they forced their way, 


THE TURNING-POINT. l8l 

Step by step, into the inner court of 
the castle, and drove the devoted band 
into the heart of the ruins. None gave, 
and none asked for quarter. Amid 
dire confusion and deadly strife, swords 
were crossed, halberds and spears were 
intermingled ; smaller and smaller grew 
the area of contest, and more and more 
slippery the ground on which they 
struggled, through streams of human 
blood and carnage. More than half 
of the knight’s followers had fallen. 
Fifty of their number retired to the 
vault under the tower, and there de- 
fended themselves with the fierceness of 
desperation. The enemy could not reach 
them, but threw lighted straw and kegs 
of powder into the entrance, so as to 
remove every chance of escape. Florian 

i6 


i 82 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


witnessed this with the profoundest 
grief, but with unyielding fortitude. 

The chivalrous knight still maintained 
his post of defiance, and his long sword 
made fearful havoc among his assailants. 
The noble Egbert fought, as usual, at 
his side. There remained yet about 
two hundred brave men to oppose the 
resistless charge of the confederate 
b^d. The rest lay dead or mortally 
wounded. 

Florian, seeing that now all hope of 
escape had vanished, addressed himself 
with lofty determination to his men. 

“Brothers,” said he, “they shall not 
slaughter us like wild beasts in a cage ! 
Let us break through their ranks. I will 
go first, and open a path for you.” 

As a raging lion, that regards not the 


THE TURNING-POINT. 183 

number of his tormentors, Florian threw 
himself upon the enemy. Close upon 
his footsteps followed his faithful men- 
at-arms. To the right and left, his 
sword cut down all opposition ; to the 
right and left, the axes and javelins of 
his followers made fearful inroad on the 
ranks of the confederates, who made 
but little resistance to such overwhelm- 
ing and desperate bravery. Trium- 
phantly did Florian pierce through the 
solid ranks of the confederates, and 
succeed in reaching a neighboring for- 
est, which yielded him a secure refuge 
for the night. None dared to fol- 
low him in the darkness, though the 
Count Palatine placed a guard of cav- 
alry at all points around the forest, in 
order to capture the slender remains of 


184 KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

this intrepid band, in the early dawn of 
the following morning. 

And yet the commander of the con- 
federates deceived himself; for, before 
the morning dawned, Florian and his 
devoted party commenced the attack on 
the enemy’s position, seeking a place 
sufficiently weak to break through, and 
thus effect an escape. 

Florian would scarcely have attempted 
this, had he not entertained the hope of 
forming a junction with an army of 
seven thousand peasants encamped 
near the village of Thann. Towards 
that place, therefore, he directed his 
forced march, with the residue of his 
associates. He had indeed, in this one 
eventful day, lost nearly all his forces ; 
but he wavered not, and bore his 


THE TURNING-POINT. 185 

broken fortunes without a murmur. 
Two things, of all he had previously 
possessed, remained to him : his self- 
possession, and hope. So long as his 
arm could wield his sword, so long was 
he willing to help his down-trodden 
German brethren, and so long he had 
faith in the final result. 

But in spite of all reasonable antici- 
pation, events had taken a widely differ- 
ent turn, and tended to a very different 
result from that which Florian had hoped 
and calculated upon. Having arrived 
near to Thann, Florian found that the 
peasant army was no longer in exist- 
ence ; it was disbanded, dispersed and 
disheartened. On the contrary, there 
was encamped in the neighborhood a 
large detachment of the confederate 


i86 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


army, under the command of Florian’s 
brother - in - law, young Wilhelm von 
Grumbach, and this force had already 
received intelligence of the approach of 
Florian’s band, and had made ready for 
pursuing him and his diminished troop. 

Florian therefore retired to a place 
called Spalteck, a wooded elevation, 
which lies between the fortresses of 
Limburg and Bellberg, near Halle in 
Suabia, and there prepared for the final 
struggle. 

At last ! 

After the bitter experience of the 
foregoing day, he could no longer count 
further upon the rising of the people. 
The enemy pressed him closely. To 
escape by flight was contrary to his 
instincts. He therefore resolved to 


THE TURNING-POINT. 


187 


Strive to the last, and to sacrifice his life 
for the cause to which he had conse- 
crated it. With this determination, on 
the evening of the eighth of June, he 
addressed himself, in these words, to 
Egbert, and his few but faithful fol- 
lowers : 

“The game is ended, and there re- 
mains nothing for me but to die, or to 
forsake my Fatherland forever. Leave 
me then, my brave and faithful brethren. 
Go and conceal yourselves. Brighter 
days may yet be yours.” 

“And you, knight Florian? What 
do you purpose doing?” asked Egbert. 

“ To fight to the bitter end,” replied 
the knight. “Nothing else would be- 
come me.” 

“ Right ; then will we all fight by your 


i88 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


side to the end,” said Egbert, as he 
threw himself prone on the summit of 
the Spalteck. 

The little band, who had grown gray 
in their armor, echoed young Egbert’s 
words. Florian saw, from their coun- 
tenances, that remonstrance would be 
unavailing. He yielded, therefore, to 
the inevitable, and reclined his weary 
limbs on the dewy grass, in company 
with his toil-worn men, for the last sleep 
before the last battle. 

On the ninth of June, from all direc- 
tions, the confederate forces directed 
their march toward the Spalteck. With 
uncharged weapons, and in deep silence, 
they were received by Florian and his 
troop. A desperate and bloody battle 
ensued. The blood flowed in streams 


THE TURNING-POINT. 189 

down the hills of the Spalteck. One 
devoted hero after another weltered in 
his own blood, having first avenged 
his own death-blow. A weighty stroke 
from a halberd fell on the devoted head 
of young Egbert, the last, save Florian, 
of the doomed band. 

“ To meet again, my brave friends,’’ 
he murmured, as he cast a mournful 
look on his slaughtered companions. 

For a short time he fought on, de- 
fending himself with his trusty sword, — 
one man against thousands. At length 
he sunk, pierced with unnumbered 
wounds, covered with his own blood 
and that of his enemies ; the last words 
upon his dying lips, “ Freedom ! Father- 
land ! ” then closed his eyes forever. 

His chivalrous death on the field of 


igO KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 

battle saved him from the scaffold of 
his embittered foes, and won for him 
eternal freedom. Unsubdued, he bore 
the shield in defence of the fallen cause 
of his country. The enemy could not 
boast of victory over him, living — and 
still less could they triumph over his 
corpse, hedged in by the dead bodies 
of their companions in arms. 

Our narrative draws to a close. In a 
few words we may mention the fate of the 
leading advocates of the Peasant War. 

Jacklein Rohrbach, the author of the 
massacre at H^ilbronn, was fearfully 
punished for his crimes. He fell into 
the hands of Truchsess von Waldburg, 
who condemned him to be roasted to 
death. In Nechergartach and Fiirfeld, 


THE TURNING-POINT. I9I 

Truchsess encamped, and here he 
wished to make a bloody atonement for 
the slaughtered nobility. In the pres- 
ence of his troops, he caused Jacklein 
to be bound ^ith iron chains to a tree 
in an open field, and then surrounded 
by fagots, which were set on fire at a 
sufficient distance to roast, and yet not 
consume the body. The wretched victim 
was compelled to dance the dance of 
death amid the flames, around the tree, 
to the music of drums and fifes. 

Children, on the shoulders of their 
fathers, looked on the horrible spectacle, 
and many lords and noblemen beheld 
the scene until the poor wretch’s last 
cry of agony and last death-groan were 
uttered, and he had sunk down, no 
longer resembling a human being, but a 
hideous, shapeless mass. 


192 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


Wendel Hippier, George Metzler, 
and a few others, escaped by secret 
flight, and thus avoided the wrath of the 
nobles. But, alas ! heavy fell this blow 
on the downtrodden peasantry. By 
hundreds they were executed ; by hun- 
dreds were they driven from house and 
home to poverty ; from hundreds the 
last penny was wrenched ; on the roofs 
of hundreds the red cock was placed. 
Berthold Aichelin, the chief executioner 
of Truchsess, carried out his office in 
the most savage manner. As a con- 
temporary historian relates : — “ He 
travelled about in Suabia, Franconia, 
the Black Forest, Hegau, Allgau, far 
and near, to hang, to burn, to pierce 
out eyes, and to brand with hot iron: 
he had an especial hatred against the 


THE TURNING-POINT. I93 

gospel ; any evangelical preacher seized 
by him forfeited his life ; he seized, 
robbed, confiscated, and hung the un- 
fortunate people on trees by the way- 
side most cruelly : with him, human com- 
passion was a thing unknown.” 

Happily, and no thanks to the nobility, 
these things came to an end. The just 
complaints of the peasants, after the 
failure of their cause, were of necessity 
quieted ; but the triumphant aristocracy 
had but little profit, and much shame as 
the result of their victory. 

“ Certain crimes of the peasants had 
been punished by the lords with cruel 
and unnecessary, though customary, bar- 
barity.” Thus writes an historian, from 
whose historical work we have taken 

this narrative. ‘‘ But such cruel punish- 
N 


17 


194 


KNIGHT AND PEASANT. 


ments are never inflicted unless pro- 
voked by those who suffer them, and 
unless those who inflict them them- 
selves suffer the evil consequences. A 
large portion of the nobility, since the 
time of the War of the Peasants, have 
not recovered from the losses occasioned 
thereby ; and the time has already come 
when the descendants of those who op- 
pressed the peasants must acknowledge 
that the sins of the fathers, after the 
lapse of centuries, have been visited 
upon their descendants.” There is a 
Providence, a sacred Nemesis, that 
quietly pervades all history ; and the 
past proclaims to the future: 

‘‘ J^jear ^ob, anb ba 
^^J^ear pirn fol^0 is abk to bcstrog.” 



CHAPTER I. 
The Twelve Articles . 



t PAGB 

• 17 

CHAPTER II. 
The Brothers .... 




CHAPTER III. 
The Storm Bursts 



• 71 

CHAPTER IV. 
JXcklein’s Revenge 

. 

. 

. 103 

CHAPTER V. 

Rescue of Egbert .... 



. 124 

CHAPTER VI. 

The Turning-Point. — All Lost save 

Honor 

. 162 


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